Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan said his wife, Judi St. Hilaire, is expected to recover from serious injuries sustained on October 31 after being hit by a vehicle attempting to cross North Street in Mattapoisett while she and other bicyclists were taking part in the 65-mile Narragansett Bay Wheelmen 081 Cranberry Metric ride.
According to reports, as of Monday, St. Hilaire, 62, was in stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. St. Hilaire was said to have had more x-rays on Monday after it had already been determined that she has 12 broken ribs, punctured lungs, and two broken collar bones as a result of the accident. According to Coogan, doctors expect that St. Hilaire will remain hospitalized “at least a week.”
Mattapoisett Police told The Wanderer that the accident is still under investigation, and a department representative said the driver is believed to have been cited.
According to published reports, Coogan said he was told the driver ran a stop sign, hitting three bike riders including St. Hilaire. There is no stop sign at the end of Tower Road where it meets North Street. Riders in the event were heading toward Mattapoisett village on North Street as part of a planned route emanating from Raynham.
St. Hilaire is a former Olympian, having finished eighth in the women’s 10,000-meter run in the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain.
Coogan, who interspersed visits to the ICU at St. Luke’s Hospital with campaign work on the eve of Tuesday’s mayoral election in Fall River, released a statement on the city’s website on Monday.
“I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the hundreds of comments and messages showing support for Judi and I [sic] after her accident. While I can’t take the time to reply to each and every one, know that we have seen all your kind words. It is humbling to see the outpouring of support for Judi. Judi remains in the ICU at Saint Luke’s but is in stable condition. They are continuing to run tests. She will have a long journey to recovery, but we have no doubt that she will be back on the road before long. Judi, who always believes in finishing a race strong, has insisted that I continue with the campaign in between visits to the hospital. However, she will continue to be my top priority. As with any tragedy, yesterday’s accident was an important reminder of what matters most. I also hope that this incident is a reminder to all drivers to stay focused and drive with caution.”
By Mick Colageo