SJ Mayor Released From Hospital After New Year's Bike Crash

Updated as of 6:40 p.m.:

SAN JOSE, CA -- Mayor Sam Liccardo was released from the hospital Wednesday evening, a day after getting hit by a vehicle while cycling on the 600 block of Salt Lake Drive at midday Tuesday. The driver of the vehicle pulled over and stayed at the scene, while Liccardo was taken to Regional Medical Center.

"The good news is I'm walking," Liccardo said in a news conference, while standing at a microphone with a back brace that will accompany him for "the next four to six weeks."

The mayor mounted more praise on the staff at the San Jose medical facility Wednesday night for providing top notch care.

The conference is shown here https://twitter.com/sliccardo/.

Earlier in the day, the leading San Jose government official explained the extent of his injuries and recovery as: "I’ve got fractures to two of my vertebrae and my sternum, but felt blessed to be able to walk on the hospital floor today with the help of the great folks at Regional Medical Center. I’m told the prognosis is good—although I’ve got a couple months of physical therapy ahead, I expect to be working from home this week, and back at City Hall doing the job I love next week."

The San Jose mayor, who rides his bike on a regular basis, suffered from multiple bruises, scrapes and fractures -- but remains in good spirits. No surgery is necessary, city spokesman David Low relayed what Liccardo was told.

“I’d like to thank compassionate neighbors like Linda and Tom who rushed to help immediately after the accident; the fast and professional response from Fire Station 19 and the San Jose Police Department; the wonderful paramedic care from Alex and her team; and the outstanding medical attention from Dr. Jimenez and the entire staff at Regional Medical Center,” Liccardo said in a statement Tuesday evening.

The major had not lost his sense of humor -- and sounds like the doctor has one, joking: “Fortunately, the doctors state that all defects to the head were pre-existing conditions.”

--Image courtesy of city of San Jose