April 13, 2007

Report: Corzine's Condition Worse Than Acknowledged

Speaking at a press conference outside a Camden hospital, a spokesman for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) said "it does not appear that the governor was wearing a seat belt" at the time of a car crash that landed him in intensive care.

Corzine's doctor said the governor was in "critical but stable" condition. Corzine was riding in the front passenger seat of a state police SUV when the driver, a state trooper, swerved to avoid an out-of-control vehicle and slammed into a guard rail. Police said they were looking for the red truck that kicked off the chain of events and left the scene.

The governor suffered several broken bones, including six ribs, and a broken leg, as well as injuries to his lungs. He was "heavily sedated" and breathing via a respirator.

Dr. Robert F. Ostrum, who led the team that operated on Corzine last night, said Corzine was lucky to be alive. But the Newark Star-Ledger reports, "Corzine is in worse condition than is publicly acknowledged," and is "likely to be in a wheelchair for at least six months," according to hospital sources.

New Jersey Senate President Richard J. Codey has stepped in as acting governor. Codey, a Democrat, previously served as acting governor when Jim McGreevey stepped down in late 2004 after revealing himself to be gay amid corruption charges. Codey stepped back into his role as Senate president when Corzine, formerly the state's junior U.S. senator, became the governor in January of 2006.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has more on the hunt for the driver of the red truck, and the Star-Ledger's blog is keeping track of updates on the governor's condition.

Posted at 11:41 AM
Posted to: Governors, Jon Corzine
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