Camden, N.J. – Gov. Jon Corzine was beginning to respond to people Sunday as he recovers from an SUV crash that left him on a ventilator with a dozen broken ribs and a severely fractured leg, among other injuries, his spokesman said.
Corzine’s three children and his girlfriend visited the governor and were pleased with his progress, spokesman Anthony Coley said.
Despite his sedation, Corzine has been able to communicate to some degree, Coley said.
Corzine, who remains in critical condition, underwent a procedure to remove fluid that had collected outside his left lung.
The procedure, which lasted less than 15 minutes, is common for patients who sustain a number of rib fractures, and doctors said it was successful, Coley said.
Corzine was injured Thursday when his sport utility vehicle crashed on the Garden State Parkway after it was hit by another vehicle that swerved to avoid a pickup, sending the governor’s SUV into a guard rail.
The 60-year-old governor, who was apparently not wearing his seat belt in the front passenger’s seat, broke a leg, a collarbone, 12 ribs and his breastbone. He also had a head cut and a minor fracture on a lower vertebra.
The governor has undergone two surgeries on his leg, and a third is expected today.
