Sen. Harry Reid's wife had surgery at a Virginia hospital to stabilize injuries from a broken neck she suffered in a Thursday afternoon traffic accident.
A doctor at Inova Fairfax Hospital said the surgery Friday was successful in that Reid's wife, Landra, is not at risk of paralysis. Dr. Elizabeth Franco told a news conference the next steps for Mrs. Reid will be to get her up and walking in the next few days and to make sure her pain is under control.
Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, spent much of Friday at the hospital while his wife underwent surgery.
Police said 69-year-old Landra Reid and her daughter, 49-year-old Lana Barringer, were struck from behind on Interstate 95 near Lorton, Va., Thursday. The daughter was released Thursday.
Their Honda Odyssey was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer at about 1:10 p.m. Thursday and pushed into the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee in front of it, which in turn was forced into the next lane, where it struck a Chevrolet Cobalt.
The driver of the truck, Alan Snader, was charged with reckless driving.
"Mrs. Reid has a broken nose, broken back and broken neck. Lana has a neck injury and facial lacerations. Both Mrs. Reid and Lana are conscious, can feel their extremities, and according to doctors their injuries are non-life threatening," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said Thursday. "Sen. Reid has been to the hospital and appreciates the support he and his family are receiving from Nevadans and his colleagues in the Senate."
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Later Thursday, Reid returned to Capitol Hill, where he was meeting with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on efforts to pass health care legislation.
The drivers of the Cobalt and the Grand Cherokee also were taken to Inova Fairfax with non-life-threatening injuries. Everyone involved was wearing a seatbelt.
Reid, 70, met Landra while they both were attending Basic High School in Henderson, Nev. They were married in 1959. Lana was born two years later, followed by four boys: Rory, Leif, Josh and Key.
