N.J. Governor Breaks Leg, Ribs In Crash

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.