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Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray was resting in a New Jersey hospital room Saturday, two days after the mayor, an avid motorcycle rider, was struck by a truck while riding.
The crash happened in Maurice River Township, N.J., Thursday afternoon. Gray, 65, was riding his motorcycle to Avalon, on the New Jersey shore, where he planned to spend the holiday weekend with his wife, Gail, and his grandchildren.
Pat Brogan, Gray's chief of staff, said Gray is under the observation of physicians at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. The earliest he is expected to be released is late today.
Lancaster City Hall will be closed Monday for the holiday observance, but Gray is not expected to return to his office during the coming week, Brogan said.
Gray suffered a broken left clavicle, four broken ribs, contusions to his left lung and bruises to his legs as a result of being hit by a box truck. The truck driver reportedly ignored a stop sign on a cross street when he drove into Gray's path.
Brogan said Gray was wearing a helmet, boots, gloves and a protective, padded jacket while riding Thursday.
Gray was one of the founders of ABATE of Pennsylvania, the motorcycle riders' group that campaigned for years for the repeal of the state's motorcycle helmet law. Yet, Gray wore a full-face helmet when riding. The rare exception has been when he has ridden without a helmet during Lancaster's Puerto Rican Day parades.
"He's very appreciative of everyone's thoughts and prayers," Brogan said of the mayor.
Gray has not given up his cell phone and has not passed off official control of the city, said Brogan.
"I can assure you that he is providing direction to his staff at every opportunity," she said.
Brogan said nothing has been canceled from the mayor's schedule. Department heads will be called to perform duties as needed on the mayor's behalf. And, Brogan said, "he will be a phone call away and we will continue to be a phone call away."
The accident is the second time in a week that a vacationing city official has been injured in a motorcycle accident. A week before, Fire Chief Tim Gregg received minor injuries when he fell while riding outside Washington, D.C.
bharris@lnpnews.com
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