Fall River Mayor's Wife In ICU After Being Hit By A Car

FALL RIVER, MA — The wife of the mayor of Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan is in intensive care after being hit by a car during a Sunday morning bike ride.

Judi St. Hilaire was on a 60-mile group bike ride with the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen in Mattapoisset, when a car ran a stop sign and hit her and two other cyclists, Coogan wrote in a Facebook post. St. Hilaire broke eight or nine ribs on each side, both of her collarbones, and punctured both lungs.

St. Hilaire was transported to the ICU at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, where she is in stable condition as of Monday.

“Judi is sorry she’s going to miss these last few days of the campaign, but that’s the least of our concerns,” Coogan wrote on Facebook. “She still loves to bike and will be back to riding after plenty of recovery and rehab. Say a prayer for her if you can.” The post received 1000 comments and 70 shares.

Coogan is finishing his first term as mayor and faces a re-election race Tuesday. His challenger, City Council President Cliff Ponte, wrote on Facebook that he is “saddened to hear about the unfortunate accident which injured Mrs. Coogan.”

“These circumstances remind all of us that accidents can happen to anyone of us at any time,” Ponte continued. “Politics and campaign aside, I sincerely hope for a speedy recovery to Mrs. Coogan. I extend our best wishes to Mayor Coogan and his family at this time.”