Ex-FBI chief thanks supporters, hospital after crash

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Former FBI director Louis Freeh issued a statement Friday thanking supporters and hospital staff following the car crash in Vermont on Monday that left him with serious injuries.

The eight-sentence statement marked Freeh's first public comments regarding the wreck but included no information about his condition, the extent of his injuries or the crash itself.

"May God bless all of these individuals who are so instrumental in my recovery," Freeh said in the statement, which singled out high-profile supporters and medical personnel for praise.

Freeh, 64, of Wilmington, Del., drove his SUV off Vermont 12 in Barnard, struck a mailbox and bushes and came to rest against a tree. Emergency crews had to cut away the roof of his GMC Yukon to rescue Freeh after the wreck.

The Vermont State Police have yet to release a cause of the crash, but investigators have said they believe alcohol and drugs were not factors.

Freeh has been hospitalized at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., since being airlifted to the facility from the crash scene. The hospital, citing patient confidentiality rules, has declined to release any information about Freeh or even confirm that he is a patient.

Sen Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., visited Freeh on Friday and issued the statement on Freeh's behalf.

The e-mailed remarks gave no indication of the type or seriousness of Freeh's injuries, how long he might remain hospitalized or what rehabilitation might be needed.

The statement primarily gave thanks to friends, the FBI and medical staff attending him. The comments contained no mention of the police, fire and rescue personnel who attended to Freeh after the one-vehicle crash shortly after noon Monday not far from his vacation home in Barnard.

Freeh was admitted under armed guard to the hospital. The FBI put the armed protection in place due to Freeh's terrorism-related work while he served as bureau director from 1993 to 2001, the authorities said.

Freeh has not responded to interview requests. He underwent surgery Monday and Tuesday.