Injured Mississippi Governor Recovers

Gov. Kirk Fordice was back on a ventilator and sedated Friday as he recovered from a near-fatal car crash.

Fordice suffered “a small setback but an expected setback” Thursday when he developed swelling problems around his vocal chords, his doctor said.

The governor was able to talk to his family while the breathing tubes were temporarily removed, and told them he didn’t remember anything about Tuesday’s accident in rural Mississippi.

Fordice, 62, was driving alone in his Jeep Grand Cherokee on a stretch of Interstate 55 when his vehicle ran off the road, down an embankment and caught fire. Other motorists pulled him from the burning wreckage.

Fordice remained in serious but stable condition. He suffered bruises to his heart and lung. The biggest threat is pneumonia, Dr. Keith Thomae said.