Latvian PM in accident

  • 2008-06-19
  • In cooperation with BNS

RIGA- Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis was in a car accident June 19 around 3 pm, when his car crashed into a Rigamini-bus on Brivibas Street.

Both the driver of the bus and Godmanis weretaken to Riga's first hospital. Godmanis was originally diagnosed with a head injury anda possible concussion from the accident. However, later reports stated that he was diagnosed with the fissure of temporalbone and concussion of the brain, according to Boriss Kools, the neurosurgeon of theRiga 1st Hospital.

The director of the hospital Andrejs Pavars in his turn said that theprime minister has passed the night calmly and feels well. "He said thathe slept well. But he is not kind of a person to whine and complain,"Pavars said.

He said that these traumas are dangerous and the danger level isdetermined by the presence of hemorrhages. CT will be repeatedlyperformed on Thursday to control the situation. "There is no worsening,that is the good news," he said, adding that most probably Godmanis willhave to spend the Midsummer celebrations in bed.

The prime minister was on his way to a meeting with President Zatlers, withlights an sirens blazing on his car which the mini-bus driver claims he did nothear. 

Four people were in Godmanis' car - Godmanis, the head ofGodmanis' bureau, the driver and a bodyguard.

Needless to say, the meeting between Godmanis and President Valdis Zatlers has beencancelled.