Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized With Fractured Vertebra After High Speed Rear End Crash In New Hampshire

I am Kai Montgomery, and yes, the headline you came for is real: former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was hospitalized after a high speed rear end collision in New Hampshire on Aug. 20.

Look, since subtlety is apparently on vacation, here is the straight shot. Giuliani, 81, stopped to help a woman who flagged him down, telling his team she was the victim of a domestic violence incident. According to his head of security Michael Ragusa, Giuliani called 911 and stayed on the scene until officers arrived. After that, while he was back on the highway, his vehicle was struck from behind at high speed. Yes, you heard that right. Render aid, then get rammed. The universe has a sense of humor and it is not a kind one.

Ragusa detailed the ordeal in an Aug. 31 statement posted to Instagram, and E! News summarized the account for the curious who prefer headlines with heart rates. The crash sent Giuliani to a nearby trauma center where doctors diagnosed a fractured thoracic vertebra, multiple lacerations and contusions, plus injuries to his left arm and lower leg. If you are counting, that is several ways to hurt all at once. According to Ragusa, Giuliani’s business partner and medical provider arrived quickly to oversee care. Translation for those in the cheap seats: the team closed ranks fast.

Before anyone lights the match for a conspiracy bonfire, Ragusa also took to X to say the incident was not a targeted attack and urged people to avoid unfounded theories. The New York Post reports that Giuliani is expected to remain hospitalized for two or three days and will need to wear a brace for the broken vertebra during recovery. It is not exactly the accessory he would have chosen, but here we are.

If you are wondering about the former mayor’s mood, there is a line for that too. Ragusa wrote that Giuliani is in good spirits and recovering tremendously. And in a moment of family solidarity that even cynics can tip a hat to, his son Andrew Giuliani thanked supporters on X, calling his father the toughest SOB he has ever seen. Agree or disagree with the politics, a spine injury at 81 is no small mountain. The fact that he is apparently cracking jokes from a hospital bed fits the long established brand of stubborn endurance that earned him the America’s Mayor moniker after his leadership following Sept. 11.

Now the obvious questions, since I know you came armed with them. Was Giuliani driving? The statement does not specify. What about the other driver? Also not specified in the public posts. Do we have a police report? Not yet in the sources referenced. What we do have are aligned accounts across multiple platforms. Ragusa’s Instagram statement lays out the timeline. His X post shuts down the speculation machine. E! News compiles the details with the dates and injuries. The New York Post adds the hospital timeline and brace update. When the accounts line up like that, you do not need caffeine to see the shape of the situation.

Context matters, so here is the plain version without the glitter. Giuliani is 81. High speed rear end collisions at that age are dangerous. A fractured thoracic vertebra typically requires a brace and measured recovery time. Lacerations and contusions can sound cosmetic, but they are the calling cards of serious impact. The detail that he had just assisted a domestic violence victim is not a throwaway either. It explains why he pulled over, it shows a slice of civic instinct that precedes the crash, and it sets the stage for why the security team is broadcasting specifics. When a public figure gets hurt in a highway incident, the rumor mill starts before the tow truck. Cutting through that noise with clear facts is not just PR. It is basic triage for the truth.

So what next, besides the inevitable hot takes? Watch for an official incident report from local authorities, confirmation of discharge timing, and any follow up from the woman who sought help. There may also be insurance and liability determinations because high speed rear end collisions do not resolve themselves. Expect a medical update when the brace plan is firmed up and the rest period is set. Given Ragusa’s public posture, another statement feels likely.

Do I sound grumpy? Good. The lesson is the same boring thing I say every time. Speed, distraction, physics and age do not negotiate. When you are on a highway, your margin for error is paper thin, even if you just did something decent like help a stranger. Here is hoping the recovery is uneventful and the narrative stays in the lane of facts. Did anyone expect drama to take a day off? Of course not. That would be efficient.

File this under hard headlines and harder roads. And keep your notifications on, because the next update on Giuliani’s condition and the official crash findings will tell us whether this story is a clean open and close, or a saga with sequels. If you needed me to tell you that, fine. Consider yourself told.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, The New York Post, Instagram, X
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