Reid suffers broken ribs, facial bones in exercising accident
Published January 02, 2015
Associated Press
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid broke several ribs and facial bones when a piece of exercise equipment snapped at his Nevada home Thursday, causing the lawmaker to fall.
In a statement issued Friday, Reid's office said the 75-year-old senator was hospitalized overnight at University Medical Center in Las Vegas as a precaution. His security detail had initially taken Reid to St. Rose Dominican Hospital near his home in Henderson, Nevada.
The accident occurred when an elastic exercise band broke, striking Reid in the face and causing him to fall, said spokesman Adam Jentleson. Reid struck some equipment as he fell, breaking multiple bones near his right eye.
As he hit the floor, he broke several ribs, Jentleson said.
Tests found no internal bleeding, Jentleson said, and his vision should not affected. Reid is expected to be released on Friday, the spokesman said.
"Senator Reid will return to Washington this weekend and be in the office Tuesday as the Senate prepares to reconvene. His doctors expect a full recovery," his office said.
Jentleson said Reid is likely to have severe facial bruises.
Reid, majority leader since 2007, will hand over the top job in the Senate next week to Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky after Democrats lost their majority in November's midterm elections. Reid faces a potentially tough re-election campaign in 2016.
In May 2011, Reid dislocated a shoulder and suffered a contusion above his left eye when he slipped after an early morning run in the rain. He fell when he leaned against a parked car.
In October 2012, Reid suffered rib and hip contusions in a chain-reaction car crash.
Reid has run marathons and was a boxer as a young man.
- received 5,805 votes, which equaled 1 percent of all voters.
