Kerry breaks leg in bike crash, calls off trip

Associated Press

GENEVA

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has delayed his trip back to the United States to stay in a Swiss hospital overnight after breaking his leg in a bicycle crash Sunday.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said that after further consultation, it was decided it was sensible for Kerry to remain in the hospital for observation overnight. Kerry had to scrap the rest of a four-nation trip that included an international conference on combating the Islamic State group.

“The secretary had planned on flying back to the U.S. this evening, but after further consultation it was sensible for him to remain in the hospital for observation overnight for purely precautionary measures and fly home tomorrow,” Kirby said Sunday.

Kerry broke his leg after a bicycle crash when he struck a curb. Kerry was in stable condition as he prepared to return to Boston for further treatment with the doctor who previously operated on his hip, Kirby said. He said X-rays at a Swiss hospital confirmed that Kerry fractured his right femur.

“The secretary is stable and never lost consciousness, his injury is not life-threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery,” Kirby said in an earlier statement.