New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine Hurt in Car Accident; Underwent Surgery
Injuries "Not Life-Threatening
Last Edited: Thursday, 12 Apr 2007, 10:15 PM EDT
Created: Thursday, 12 Apr 2007, 7:39 PM EDT
Gov. Jon Corzine was hurt in a car accident on the Garden State Parkway. This picture shows rescue crews at a damaged SUV that apparently broke through a guard rail. It isn't known if the governor was in this vehicle. SideBar
Gov. Jon S. Corzine broke his left leg and several ribs when his motorcade was involved in an accident on the Garden State Parkway Thursday night, but the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
A state trooper and an aide to the governor were also injured in the crash, which occurred just after 6 p.m. near milemarker 44.5 in Galloway Township, Atlantic County. All three were taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where Corzine underwent surgery performed by Dr. Robert S. Ostrum.
State Senate President Richard Codey will serve as acting governor while Corzine is hospitalized.
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 host Don Imus and the Rutgers University women's basketball team.
During a news conference at the hospital Thursday night, state police Superintendent Rick Fuentes said the crash occurred when a red pickup truck -- which was on the right shoulder of the highway -- swerved toward the berm and came back onto highway. This caused another pickup in the right lane to swerve into the passenger side of the sport utility vehicle in which Corzine was riding.
The SUV was driven by Trooper Robert Rasinski, whose injuries were not disclosed.
"It looks as if the trooper did a tremendous job doing what he could to maintain control of that vehicle," Fuentes.
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Associated Press Writer Angela Delli Santi in Trenton contributed to this report.
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