TRENTON, N.J., April 20 (UPI) -- Doctors Friday took New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine off a ventilator, allowing him to breathe on his own for the first time since he was injured in a car crash.
Corzine remained in critical but stable condition at a Camden hospital, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported. He was taken to Cooper Medical Center by helicopter immediately after the crash April 12 on the Garden State Parkway.
The governor suffered 11 broken ribs, a broken breastbone and broken collarbone when his sport utility vehicle collided with a guardrail.
His injuries made inhaling and exhaling painful. On Wednesday, catheters were placed to deliver anesthetic directly.
Doctors say Corzine may need months to recover completely. State Senate President Richard Codey, who spent more than a year as acting governor after the resignation of Gov. Jim McGreevey in 2004, is filling in for Corzine.
