Ill passerby pulls into governor’s residence

BISMARCK — A motorist pulled into the driveway of the North Dakota governor’s residence to summon help for a passenger who fell ill, authorities said.

An ambulance and fire truck responded to the call, which came just before noon Friday, said Kermit Schaefer, assistant chief for the Bismarck fire department, and Col. Mark Nelson, the commander of the state Highway Patrol.

Nelson said the incident did not involve Gov. John Hoeven or any member of his family or staff. Hoeven said he wasn’t home at the time.

A Highway Patrol report says an ambulance arrived four minutes after the call, and the woman passenger was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation before she was taken to the hospital. The name of the woman and driver were not disclosed.

North Dakota’s governor’s residence is on the southwest corner of the state Capitol grounds, near the intersection of two of Bismarck’s busier streets.

The sight of an ambulance and fire truck in front of the governor’s residence prompted several calls to Hoeven’s Capitol office at the time of the incident, said Ryan Bernstein, Hoeven’s staff attorney.

Two Highway Patrol troopers and two state Capitol security personnel also responded to the incident, a Highway Patrol report says.

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