N.J. Governor Breaks Leg, Ribs In Crash

(AP)  Gov. Jon S. Corzine underwent surgery Thursday night after suffering several broken ribs and a broken leg when his motorcade was involved in a car accident, a doctor said.

A trooper and an aide to the governor also were injured in the crash, which happened shortly after 6 p.m. on the Garden State Parkway. All three were taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

Dr. Steven Ross, head of trauma for the hospital, said at a news conference that Corzine was still in surgery for the break to his left leg around 10 p.m. EDT Thursday night. He was in critical condition, authorities said, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.

State Senate President Richard Codey will serve as acting governor while Corzine is hospitalized.

The crash occurred when a pickup truck on the right shoulder of the highway swerved then came back onto the highway, said State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes. Another pickup in the right lane swerved into the passenger side of the sport utility vehicle in which Corzine was riding, he said.

"It looks as if the trooper did a tremendous job doing what he could to maintain control of that vehicle," Fuentes.

The condition of the trooper and the aide were not immediately available.

At the time of the crash, the governor was on his way from Atlantic City to his mansion in Princeton to take part in the meeting between radio personality Don Imus and the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

Imus was fired from his radio program by CBS Thursday amid furor about remarks he made about the team.

[truthword]

Bad karma for severely overtaxing the people of New Jersey?????? Why did this guy need a motorcade anyways did he have a lot of people that hated his guts? You'd think these politicians had really screwed over millions of people or something as much security as they all seem to need.... maybe he should have just barricaded himself in his princeton mansion....

[cepe10-2009]

The trooper should learn how to drive. When you see an erratic vehicle on the shoulder - keep an escape route open by not traveling in the blind spot of another vehicle. It is only common sense what may happen....for the trooper driving the governor - go back to driving school....

[infidel_us]

Next time, wear a seatbelt!

[elgraz]

He didn't have his seat belt on did he. We have the same redneck pickup drivers down here in North Carolina and they are in another world....actually I wish they would be. I hope they throw the book at those nitwit drivers who caused the accident.

[formrusmcsgt]

First of all, it seems somewhat ridiculous that a State Governor would be needed to moderate a meeting between Imus and a handful of college girls. Corzine obviously doesn't have much to do, eh?

Secondly, with a compound fracture of the femur, broken sternum and 12 broken ribs, it would appear that he holds himself to be above the seatbelt law as well.

[j_flood]

Hmmmm.... the Imus knock-on effect....

[trueprogress]

Let's all pray for a speedy recovery for all involved.

[sero5]

The Governor was not 'racing' to this meeting. The problem we have is aggressive drivers who swerve recklessly and who fail to give right-of-way to a motorcade. It is unnerving when people drive on the shoulder of highway to get ahead of traffic and then worse, cause a serious accident.
Hope Gov. Corzine makes a full recovery.

[tucson23]

Oh-oh. I think it's pretty obvious Jesus is mad at this guy. He must believe in some kind of science or something to deserve this punishment from the Lord. Not enough Bible reading.