Crash Leaves Gov. Corzine a Changed Man, Visitors Say

Apr 27, 04:06 PM

Current Headlines: By Elisa Ung, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Apr. 27--New Jersey Gov. Corzine is recovering well and feels like he's gotten a second lease on life, said Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts after emerging from a meeting with Corzine at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

"He's really at peace with himself and he looks at life a little different now," Codey told reporters early this afternoon after about a half-hour meeting with Corzine, who is recuperating from a car crash. "The small things in life aren't going to bother him."

Codey said Corzine told him he would leave the hospital on Tuesday or Wednesday, and would then evaluate his energy level and physical condition before deciding when he could resume gubernatorial duties.

Codey, the president of the State Senate, has been acting governor since the April 12 crash in which Corzine broke 11 ribs, his left femur, his breastbone and collarbone. Corzine was on a ventilator for a week.

Corzine communications director Anthony Coley said today that the governor will do all of his rehabilitation at Drumthwacket, the goveror's mansion in Princeton, after he is released from Cooper. Corzine -- a multimillionaire who takes a $1 salary -- will also pay all of his own medical bills, Coley said.

Codey and Roberts, both Democrats like Corzine, were the first people to visit Corzine outside of his family and a few staff members. Codey said the accident has brought Corzine closer to his three children and his girlfriend, Sharon Elghanayan.

Corzine said several times that he feels "very blessed that he's alive," Codey said. When Codey tried to bring up policy matters, Corzine told him he didn't care about that now.

Roberts said Corzine looked well and had a strong voice, but was in no rush to return to work.

Corzine was not wearing a seatbelt and the state trooper driving his SUV was going 91 mph seconds before the accident on the Garden State Parkway. Codey and Roberts said the seatbelt never came up in the meeting, but that Corzine thinks well of the state trooper who drove the SUV.

Contact staff writer Elisa Ung at 609-989-9016 or eung@phillynews.com.

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