Jindal not injured in Sunday accident

Advocate staff file photo by Patrick Dennis -- Gov. Bobby Jindal, shown here in October 2011.

A vehicle in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s security detail struck a utility pole Sunday afternoon while returning the governor home from his son’s soccer game.

The governor’s spokesman, Sean Lansing, said Jindal was not injured in the three-vehicle accident. One of the governor’s bodyguards went to a hospital with minor injuries.

At the time of the accident, the governor was returning home in a two-vehicle caravan.

State Police said the crash happened about 5 p.m. on Nicholson Drive when a truck made an illegal U-turn in front of the governor’s vehicles.

The truck scraped the side of the vehicle carrying the governor and a state trooper, State Police reported.

A second vehicle in the governor’s security detail took “evasive action” to avoid hitting the crashed vehicles and struck a utility pole, State Police Capt. Doug Cain said Sunday night.

“The governor was involved in a traffic accident this afternoon on the way home from his son’s soccer game after a truck made an illegal U-turn in front of his vehicle. The governor did not sustain any injuries, and he is thankful for the work of the Louisiana State Police who keep him and his family safe every day,” Lansing wrote Sunday night by email.

State Police said the truck driver, who authorities did not name, received a citation for improper turn.

Cain said one of the governor’s bodyguards went to the hospital but should be fine.

Jindal was back in Baton Rouge after speaking Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

Jindal used the appearance to dismiss speculation he wants to run for president in 2016.

“The truth is — I am too skinny to run,” he said. “At least that’s what my friend, (New Jersey Gov.) Chris Christie, keeps telling me.”

Comments

1) Comment by Bouncer - 19/03/2013

Showing their hate? That's a knee-slapper. No, when "hate" is pulled out of the hip pocket, you'll know it. To me, he's a one man comedy act, spluttering and slick-talking his way through his various little speeches. Only a dwindling number of blockheads in Lose-e-anna give any credence to anything that the little toad says. On the national front, he has long since been an object of ridicule and vilification. Hate? Don't make me laugh. Embarrassment is a more apt word.

2) Comment by whodat70816 - 18/03/2013

Too bad he's ok. I wish he would have had a come to Jesus moment....no such luck. Call me what you like for saying i wish he had been injured....but I feel just fine with it after thinking about all of the people he has hurt over the past 5 years and will continue to hurt for over the next 3. And I care less he has little kids....because as long as he is alive, they'll probably end up just like him.

3) Comment by 8point6 - 18/03/2013

Wow! My "progressive" friends are showing their hate. And I'm called a racist for calling hussein, "hussein". Too funny! Speaking of evil....http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/03/history- says-satan-does-not-look-like-obama/ Yeah, right!

4) Comment by spqr - 18/03/2013

The straw poll and the utility pole do not like Piyush Jindal either.

5) Comment by Bouncer - 18/03/2013

Look at that picture. It's like staring straight into the face of evil. And crazy.

6) Comment by Whatnow - 18/03/2013

I'm glad he's okay.

7) Comment by Vernonbrew22 - 18/03/2013

I continue to pray for you Bobby. You, like many cardinals, bishops and other elected leaders in government face a lot of tough decisions each day. Still praying man. Like the several hundred clergy leaders of virtually every denomination have asked you in a recent letter, I pray for you to really consider what this propose tax swap does to an already poor state. I mean, we are already considered the third highest taxed state in the nation and our population has roughly 19-20 percent of it's folks living below the poverty line. That is 1 in 5 Louisianians Bobby. I pray for you to please look at the ramifications. Hoping I do not have to pray for the legislators to do the right thing. Like I said, my prayers are with you. Be our leader. Amen

8) Comment by mcBR - 18/03/2013

"Jindal spotted in Baton Rouge" would have been a more appropriate headline.

9) Comment by Ohsofedup - 18/03/2013

Maybe this is why his car got run off the road! Read this list of ridiculous salaries that John White and his cronies are making: A quick peek indicates that some of the unclassified salaries seem to proliferate in the Department of Education: • John White, Superintendent: $275,000; • Michael Rounds, Deputy Superintendent: $170,000; • Howard Drake and Gayle Sloan, Liaison Officers: $160,000 each; • Kerry Laster, Executive Officer: $155,000; • David Lefkowith, precise title still a mystery: $146,000; • Kunjan Narechania, Chief of Staff to John White: $145,000; • Gary Jones, Executive Officer: $145,000; • Deirdre Finn, part time PR Director (working from home in Tallahassee, FL.): $144,000; • James P. Wilson, Director (of what?): $142,000; • Melissa Stilley, Liaison Officer: $135,000; • Elizabeth Scioneaux, Deputy Superintendent: $132,800; • Debra Schum, Executive Officer: $132,000; • Hannah Dietsch, Assistant Superintendent (someone please explain the difference between an assistant superintendent and a deputy superintendent.): $130,000; • Nicholas Bolt, Deputy Chief of Staff (as opposed to assistant chief of staff): $105,000. Perhaps you may have noticed in that lengthy laundry list of high-paying position, there was not a single name followed by the title “Instructor” or any other title that would indicate classroom experience. The next story is looking at how much security John White costs the state taxpayers and why he's scared to go outside.

10) Comment by NewsReader - 18/03/2013

Tea_Slayer, what's even more puzzling concerning Jeff Sadow is that (a) he has sufficient time to post here and on his blogs while on public payroll and (b) that while he is always so pro Jindal and anti handouts that he's had zero problems throughout his career in accepting $204,136 in the way of grants. It would seem Mr Sadow is another one of those "do as I say not as I do" type of people.

11) Comment by NewsReader - 18/03/2013

Hello Baton Rouge, but what you overlook is that usually if you, me or the majority of others reading here have to take "evasive action" we get cited for having been (a) following too close (b) travelling at too great a speed (c) failure to maintain control. If you've ever seen Jindal (or any other accompanied dignitary for that matter) travel on highways (usually well in excess of the speedlimit I might add) you'll always see the vehicles so close to each other that safe stopping is not an option as witnessed by this incident.

12) Comment by BigRock - 18/03/2013

I, too, am glad no one was physically harmed. Although I disagree with the governor at almost every turn, wishing him physical harm would be, I believe, destructive to my own soul. That being said, I have to take issue with the Advocate constantly calling this man a potential presidential candidate. First, as Jindal flirts with the powers at be in Washington, they have all but written him off. He didn't even register as blip on the CPAC straw poll, even though he spoke at their conference. And, all accounts was that his speech to many of the grassroots leaders in attendance fell flat...again. By contrast, Gov. Cristie, who wasn't even invited to speak, finished in the top five in the straw poll. Second, let's say take the guy at his word. Until he gets off of saying that he has the job that he wants, then let's ask him to govern here and quit calling him a potential resident of 1600 Penn.

13) Comment by WhoCares - 18/03/2013

See name...that one is for you Grannee.

14) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 18/03/2013

and it's good to see jeff's nose is still planted firmly in Jindal's rear. jeff, did you sustain any injuries in the wreck?

15) Comment by jeffsadow - 18/03/2013

It's good to see the Jindal Derangement Syndrome symptoms of some regular commenters here subside at least temporarily on seeing this news. Unfortunately, the immaturity of a couple of others remains unaffected.

16) Comment by Thurston_Howell_III - 18/03/2013

Even thought I am not a fan of a lot of the selfish decisions he has made, that is good news he wasn't hurt. He does have small children.

17) Comment by Pakistani - 18/03/2013

Who cares about Pakistani boy.

18) Comment by Hello Baton Rouge - 18/03/2013

Evasive action is simply taking action to evade the danger. If you didn't make it to the 6th grade that means 'swerved to avoid the vehicle in your path'

19) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 18/03/2013

If I had to hit a utility pole in order to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming truck, I'd choose the pole, too. Not sure what's the beef with that.

20) Comment by zealer99 - 18/03/2013

I guess we cannot use the "T" word, even as a joke. The second unit may have had to swerve to miss the first unit. I remember the old days when Big John used to ride his horse over to the capital building. Sometimes he would ride up the front steps, onto the first floor, and into the Senate Chamber. Sometimes it took a half hour to clean the horse droppings. I remember one time EWE's vehicle had a flat and he walked from the Capital Gardens to the Capital. Times change.

21) Comment by blondredneck - 18/03/2013

If you or I "took evasive action" and hit a utility pole, we would be cited for failure to maintain control. The perks of power.

22) Comment by Grannee - 18/03/2013

It would be nice if WhoCares would surface and comment.....

23) Comment by twinkie1cat - 17/03/2013

Too bad. Maybe an accident with an injury would have made him think about the people he's hurting by refusing to expand Medicaid and his privatization debacle. Bring something home and it changes people.

24) Comment by Preppy6917 - 17/03/2013

"The second unit took evasive action and struck a utility pole"...huh? What does this even mean?