Mississippi ex-Gov. Haley Barbour hospitalized after wreck

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was hospitalized Wednesday after wrecking his SUV whereas swerving to keep away from a canine on a rural street, regulation enforcement officers mentioned.

Barbour, 75, had the wreck close to Wolf Lake exterior Yazoo Metropolis, about 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) northwest of Jackson. Barbour lives in Yazoo Metropolis.

Yazoo County Sheriff Jake Sheriff instructed The Related Press that Barbour was airlifted to College of Mississippi Medical Middle in Jackson after the wreck, which occurred at about 5:30 p.m. A information launch from the Mississippi Freeway Patrol hours later described Barbour as “steady and alert” with accidents that weren’t life-threatening.

Barbour is a Republican and served two phrases as governor, from January 2004 to January 2012.

Barbour was White Home political director for President Ronald Reagan within the Eighties and chairman of the Republican Nationwide Committee from 1993 to 1997. Barbour was high-profile Washington lobbyist earlier than changing into governor and returned to lobbying after leaving workplace.

Sheriff mentioned Barbour instructed emergency responders {that a} canine ran out in entrance of him, and the previous governor swerved and hit a culvert. The BMW SUV ended up on its facet. Barbour was sporting a seatbelt, and the airbag deployed, Sheriff mentioned.

Sheriff mentioned officers didn’t discover a canine close to the accident web site.

Barbour had a reduce on the facet of his head and instructed emergency responders that he had ache in his hip and left shoulder, Sheriff mentioned.