Norton Out of Hospital and in Therapy for Injuries Suffered in Auto Accident

Ken Norton, former heavyweight boxing champion, has started a daily therapy program to recover from injuries he suffered in a car accident.

Norton, 40, was released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center this week after suffering a fractured skull, jaw and knee on Feb. 23 when his custom-built sports car went off the side of the Vermont Avenue on-ramp to the Santa Monica Freeway.

Norton underwent brain surgery, is currently in a wheelchair and will wear a cast on his right leg for about a month.

Initially, it was believed that no other cars were involved, but Norton’s business partner, Jack Rodri, said an investigation has indicated that two cars were traveling side by side and that Norton’s was crowded off the ramp when it converged to one lane.

The driver of the other car is believed to have informed police of the accident after leaving the scene.

“Otherwise, they never would have known he was there,” Rodri said.

Rodri said that Norton had just dropped him off at his car after a function at the Biltmore Hotel and that Rodri had preceded Norton’s route “by two or three minutes.”