A festive family horseback riding expedition took an unexpected turn for Nebraska's highest-ranking state official near Columbus.
According to CBS News, Governor Jim Pillen, 68, sustained multiple severe injuries, including broken ribs and organ damage, after being bucked off a horse he was riding on Sunday.
The Republican governor was immediately transported to Columbus Community Hospital before being transferred to Omaha's University of Nebraska Medical Center for specialized care. His injuries, while extensive, were deemed non-life-threatening by medical professionals who conducted various procedures to address his condition.
Pillen's office released a comprehensive statement detailing the extent of his injuries, which included seven broken ribs, minor lacerations to his spleen and kidney, and a partially collapsed lung.
A minor vertebrae fracture was also discovered during medical examination, though his head, neck, nervous system, and other internal organs remained unaffected.
The governor underwent a medical procedure called coil embolization to address minor bleeding from his spleen. During this procedure, which required anesthesia and lasted less than an hour, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly temporarily assumed gubernatorial responsibilities.
According to Pillen's office, the procedure proved successful, and the governor's recovery progressed positively. Despite his hospitalization, he maintained his duties and even managed to watch the second half of a Nebraska basketball game while conversing with his family and team.
The accident occurred while Pillen was spending time with his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter near Columbus. Reports indicate that he was riding a new horse at the time of the incident, suggesting unfamiliarity with the animal may have contributed to the accident.
Pillen's office provided an update on his condition, stating:
Gov. Pillen was transported to Nebraska Medicine Sunday afternoon after a horseback riding accident while riding with his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter near Columbus. The governor's injuries included minor lacerations to his spleen and kidney, seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung resulting from the rib damage, and a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae. There were no injuries to his neck, head, nervous system or additional internal organs.
Medical professionals recommend a period of observation, particularly focusing on his rib injuries. The governor is expected to remain hospitalized for several days while conducting his official duties from his hospital room.
Pillen, who is serving his first term as governor after being elected in 2022, continues to maintain his gubernatorial responsibilities despite his hospitalization.
The situation briefly activated Nebraska's chain of command when Lieutenant Governor Kelly temporarily assumed gubernatorial duties during Pillen's medical procedure. This marks a significant moment in Pillen's administration, which began after he succeeded former Governor Pete Ricketts, who reached his term limit.
Governor Jim Pillen's horseback riding accident near Columbus resulted in multiple internal injuries requiring immediate medical attention and hospitalization. While the 68-year-old Republican leader sustained serious injuries, medical professionals successfully treated his condition through various procedures, including a coil embolization for his spleen. The governor continues to perform his duties from his hospital room at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he is expected to remain under observation for several days while recovering from his injuries.
