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NJ governor Corzine critically injured.
Corzine injured in car crash
Hurt on way to Imus-Rutgers confab, gov is lucky to be alive, says trauma surgeon
BY OREN YANIV and LEO STANDORA
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Van that Gov. Jon Corzine was riding in sits atop guardrail on Garden State Parkway in New Jersey after last night's crash. Corzine was on way to Imus-Rutgers meeting at governor's mansion.
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine suffered a broken leg, a dozen fractured ribs and other serious injuries in a highway crash yesterday while on his way to a meeting between the Rutgers women's basketball team and Don Imus, authorities said.
The surgeon who operated on Corzine for two hours said the injuries were so severe that the governor was lucky to be alive.
Corzine's communications director, Anthony Coley, said the governor was taken from his vehicle on a stretcher and helicoptered to the trauma center at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J.
His other injuries included a broken breastbone and collarbone and a slight fracture of the lower vertebrae, said Dr. Steven Ross, the hospital's trauma director. But he said Corzine suffered no brain or spinal cord damage.
Dr. Robert Ostrum, Corzine's surgeon, said the most damage was to the upper part of the governor's left leg, where two fractured bones pierced his flesh.
Ostrum said the damage was repaired by inserting two metal rods and screws.
Corzine was in "critical but stable" condition on a breathing tube and in intensive care following the surgery, during which he got seven units of blood.
Two more operations are scheduled for tomorrow and Monday, doctors said.
"He has a significant rehab ahead of him," Ostrum said, estimating it will take three to six months before Corzine is back to normal.
New Jersey state Senate President. Richard Codey was named acting governor after Corzine was hospitalized.
"On behalf of all the citizens of the state of New Jersey, we wish the governor a speedy recovery," Codey said.
The accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on the Garden State Parkway near mile marker 43.5 in Galloway Township in Atlantic County, about 114 miles south of Manhattan.
Corzine spokesman Brendan Gilfillan confirmed the governor was on his way to Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion in Princeton, where the disgraced radio talk show host and the Rutgers University players were to meet.
Imus, who had denigrated the players with racist and sexist slurs after their appearance in the NCAA championship game, had asked for the chance to apologize in person. Sources said the closed-door session went on as planned, just hours after CBS fired Imus for his remarks.
State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes said the accident occurred as a state trooper drove Corzine, who was in the front passenger seat, and an aide, who was in the back, north on the parkway in a Chevy Tahoe after a meeting in Atlantic City.
Fuentes said "a red pickup driving erratically on the right shoulder suddenly swerved onto the roadway," forcing a white pickup into an "evasive maneuver" that took it into Corzine's path.
He said the trooper tried to avoid the white truck, but the Tahoe was sideswiped, sent into a spin and hit a guardrail on the passenger's side.
The SUV stopped with its front on debris-littered grass and its rear end over the top of the rail.
Bobby Juska of Lanoka Harbor, N.J., said Corzine's legs were hanging out the window after the crash and the governor was screaming, "My leg! My leg!"
Corzine, the ex-chairman and CEO of investment giant Goldman Sachs and a former U.S. senator, usually does not wear a seat belt. Fuentes said it was unclear if he wore one yesterday.
Corzine's driver, Trooper Robert Rasinski, suffered what were believed to be minor injuries. He was also being treated at Cooper University Hospital.
The aide, Samantha Gordon, 25, did not require hospitalization and was "all right," her brother said from their Prince.ton home.
Police said the driver who caused the accident fled and troopers were looking for him last night.
With Kerry Burke and News Wire Services
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Hurt on way to Imus-Rutgers confab, gov is lucky to be alive, says trauma surgeon
BY OREN YANIV and LEO STANDORA
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Van that Gov. Jon Corzine was riding in sits atop guardrail on Garden State Parkway in New Jersey after last night's crash. Corzine was on way to Imus-Rutgers meeting at governor's mansion.
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine suffered a broken leg, a dozen fractured ribs and other serious injuries in a highway crash yesterday while on his way to a meeting between the Rutgers women's basketball team and Don Imus, authorities said.
The surgeon who operated on Corzine for two hours said the injuries were so severe that the governor was lucky to be alive.
Corzine's communications director, Anthony Coley, said the governor was taken from his vehicle on a stretcher and helicoptered to the trauma center at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J.
His other injuries included a broken breastbone and collarbone and a slight fracture of the lower vertebrae, said Dr. Steven Ross, the hospital's trauma director. But he said Corzine suffered no brain or spinal cord damage.
Dr. Robert Ostrum, Corzine's surgeon, said the most damage was to the upper part of the governor's left leg, where two fractured bones pierced his flesh.
Ostrum said the damage was repaired by inserting two metal rods and screws.
Corzine was in "critical but stable" condition on a breathing tube and in intensive care following the surgery, during which he got seven units of blood.
Two more operations are scheduled for tomorrow and Monday, doctors said.
"He has a significant rehab ahead of him," Ostrum said, estimating it will take three to six months before Corzine is back to normal.
New Jersey state Senate President. Richard Codey was named acting governor after Corzine was hospitalized.
"On behalf of all the citizens of the state of New Jersey, we wish the governor a speedy recovery," Codey said.
The accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on the Garden State Parkway near mile marker 43.5 in Galloway Township in Atlantic County, about 114 miles south of Manhattan.
Corzine spokesman Brendan Gilfillan confirmed the governor was on his way to Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion in Princeton, where the disgraced radio talk show host and the Rutgers University players were to meet.
Imus, who had denigrated the players with racist and sexist slurs after their appearance in the NCAA championship game, had asked for the chance to apologize in person. Sources said the closed-door session went on as planned, just hours after CBS fired Imus for his remarks.
State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes said the accident occurred as a state trooper drove Corzine, who was in the front passenger seat, and an aide, who was in the back, north on the parkway in a Chevy Tahoe after a meeting in Atlantic City.
Fuentes said "a red pickup driving erratically on the right shoulder suddenly swerved onto the roadway," forcing a white pickup into an "evasive maneuver" that took it into Corzine's path.
He said the trooper tried to avoid the white truck, but the Tahoe was sideswiped, sent into a spin and hit a guardrail on the passenger's side.
The SUV stopped with its front on debris-littered grass and its rear end over the top of the rail.
Bobby Juska of Lanoka Harbor, N.J., said Corzine's legs were hanging out the window after the crash and the governor was screaming, "My leg! My leg!"
Corzine, the ex-chairman and CEO of investment giant Goldman Sachs and a former U.S. senator, usually does not wear a seat belt. Fuentes said it was unclear if he wore one yesterday.
Corzine's driver, Trooper Robert Rasinski, suffered what were believed to be minor injuries. He was also being treated at Cooper University Hospital.
The aide, Samantha Gordon, 25, did not require hospitalization and was "all right," her brother said from their Prince.ton home.
Police said the driver who caused the accident fled and troopers were looking for him last night.
With Kerry Burke and News Wire Services
Link
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