Destiny has taken a painful turn for Don Imus. Thrown from a horse named Destiny while riding at his children’s charity ranch in Santa Fe, N.
M., on Sunday, the morning radio host suffered five broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a dislocated shoulder and a punctured lung.
He was in stable condition yesterday at an undisclosed New Mexico hospital, said WFAN program director Mark Chernoff.
“He’s on heavy pain medication,” Chernoff said. “He said the ribs are the worst.
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The nationally syndicated star’s radio sidekick Charles McCord said Imus was thrown “up to 10 feet” by the horse, who was unharmed. Imus, who grew up on a ranch, is an experienced rider.
MSNBC, which simulcasts the WFAN show, said Imus could be gone for five weeks.
But less than 24 hours after the accident, he checked in on the show yesterday with a brief and somewhat groggy phone call to McCord and producer Bernard
McGuirk, who ran the show in his absence.
Chernoff said Imus told him he wants to be back on the air by Friday.
“We’ll see about that,” said the program director. “He’s in a lot of pain. But I wouldn’t be surprised if his calls get longer every day.
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During Imus’ last major medical crisis, when his other lung collapsed several years ago, he broadcast from his hospital bed.
Chernoff said the 59-year-old shock jock was expected to remain in the hospital for a few days – primarily to ensure that his punctured lung is repaired – and then would spend several weeks recuperating.
The Imus show had been scheduled to start a two-week vacation next Monday – timed so the often-controversial deejay could spend more time with the children who are coming to the ranch this summer.
Imus bought the ranch, just outside Santa Fe, to provide a summer getaway for children with cancer or who have siblings who died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He has been active for years with the CJ Foundation for SIDS and the Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund.
The accident was badly timed for the arrival of the first group of young guests, who came this weekend, but it was fortunate for WFAN because radio’s critical spring ratings quarter wraps up this week.
Though Imus’ injuries are painful, commentary on the show yesterday was taking an Imus-style dark-humor edge,
with jokes about how the children could spend their time pushing Imus around
on his hospital bed.
