Rudy Giuliani hospitalized after weekend car crash

The former New York City mayor was recovering Monday from a fractured thoracic vertebrae, multiple lacerations and contusions, and injuries to his left arm and leg. He sustained the injuries Saturday night when another driver rear-ended the rental car he was riding in on Interstate 93 in New Hampshire, according to a statement from Giuliani’s head of security. Giuliani was a passenger in the vehicle driven by his spokesman, Theodore Goodman, who also sustained non-life-threatening injuries, as did the 19-year-old female driver of the other car. All three were transported to area hospitals for treatment, according to the New Hampshire State Police. The 19-year-old struck Giuliani’s vehicle at high speed but it was not a targeted attack, according to Giuliani’s head of security Michael Ragusa.

What led up to the accident? Earlier Saturday evening, a woman who was the victim of a domestic violence incident flagged Giuliani down, Ragusa said. The 81-year-old stopped, assisted the woman, and contacted 911. He remained on the scene until officers arrived. In its news release about the crash, the New Hampshire State Police said troopers were investigating a reported domestic violence incident across the street from where Goodman’s car was rear-ended, though it is not clear if these were the same incidents. Most widely known as the former mayor of New York City, Giuliani also previously served as President Donald Trump’s personal attorney. Trump in June appointed him to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

Has the president responded? Trump on Monday afternoon issued a statement on Truth Social announcing his intention to award Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He did not say if that decision was related to the crash and said the time and location of the ceremony would be announced at a later date.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about Giuliani settling a case brought against him by two Georgia election workers.