Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Reid suffers bruises after motorcade is involved in multivehicle accident on I-15

Reid Accident

Paul Takahashi

A Chevrolet Suburban sits wrecked on Interstate 15 north of Sahara Avenue on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012. The SUV was one of five vehicles in an accident involving U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s motorcade. It was not clear whether this was the vehicle carrying Reid.

Updated Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 | 6 p.m.

Sen. Reid suffers bruising in motorcade crash

KSNV reports that Sen. Harry Reid suffered bruising after a car accident while riding in his motorcade, Oct. 26.

Harry Reid at UMC

A Reid staffer goes to retrieves a suit jacket and rolling briefcase from the back of an SUV outside the Trauma Center at University Medical Center Friday, Oct. 26, 2012. Launch slideshow »

Harry Reid in Car Accident

The scene of a five vehicle accident involving U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's motorcade, Friday Oct. 26, 2012. Launch slideshow »
Click to enlarge photo

This screen grab from a freeway traffic camera on Interstate 15 near Desert Inn Road shows the traffic backup from a crash Friday afternoon that involved Sen. Harry Reid.

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid suffered bruises Friday afternoon in a multivehicle accident on Interstate 15 that sent him to University Medical Center Trauma as a precaution.

"He experienced rib and hip contusions and has been cleared for release by the doctors," Reid's office said in a statement this afternoon.

Reid, 72, the Senate majority leader, was taken to UMC by his security detail as a precaution and walked in on his own, his office reported. The statement added that some of Reid's detail and a staffer also suffered minor injuries in the accident and were evaluated at UMC. The senator was wearing his seatbelt when the accident occurred, the statement said.

Reid spokeswoman Kristen Orthman, in an email at 3:48 p.m., said the senator had left the hospital.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jeremie Elliott said the accident occurred about 1:10 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-15, north of Sahara Avenue.

Trooper Loy Hixson said five vehicles were involved in the accident: two vehicles carrying Reid and members of his security detail; two Metro Police vehicles; and one civilian vehicle.

As of 6 p.m. Friday, troopers said investigation into the wreck was continuing and they would not say what led to the accident.

The right two lanes of northbound I-15 near the accident scene remained close for more than four hours Friday, until 5:30 p.m..

Reid had spoken earlier in the day at a Las Vegas ceremony celebrating the National Atomic Testing Museum, which was officially named a "national" museum Friday.

He was due to speak to the editorial board of Spanish-language newspaper El Tiempo at 2:30 p.m., according to editor Hernando Amaya.

Reid's wife, Landra, spoke at a campaign event this afternoon featuring first lady Michelle Obama before abruptly leaving as word of the accident spread at the rally.

Landra Reid and daughter, Lana, were involved in a car crash two years ago when their vehicle was rear ended by a semi-truck near Washington, D.C. Landra Reid broke her back, neck and nose, while Lana Reid hurt her neck and cut her face. Reid often refers to the crash in his speeches.

Harry Reid has been particularly active and energetic this campaign cycle. Earlier this week in Carson City, he seemed to revel in the campaign, interacting with volunteers and supporters. At a joint dinner with Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., one source described Reid as "more engaged than when he was running."

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy