The rumors started flying almost before the glass stopped shattering on the pavement. People were asking, was Rudy Giuliani in a car accident? Honestly, the answer is a very real, very painful yes. It happened on a dark stretch of Interstate 93 in Manchester, New Hampshire, on a Saturday night in late August 2025.
It wasn't just a minor fender bender.
The former New York City mayor, who is now 81, ended up in a trauma center with injuries that would rattle someone half his age. We’re talking about a fractured thoracic vertebra, nasty cuts, and some serious bruising on his arm and leg. It’s a lot for anyone, let alone a man who has spent the last few years bouncing between courtrooms and political rallies.
The Bizarre Lead-Up to the Crash
The story gets weird before the actual impact even happened. According to his head of security, Michael Ragusa, Giuliani and his driver, Ted Goodman, were actually trying to be Good Samaritans. They were driving south when they saw a woman on the side of the road who looked like she was in trouble.
She flagged them down.
She told them she was a victim of a domestic violence incident. Giuliani and Goodman did what most people would do—they stopped, called 911, and waited until the state troopers showed up. Once the police had the situation under control, Rudy and his team got back in their rented Ford Bronco and headed north.
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Then, everything went sideways.
The High-Speed Collision on I-93
Around 10:00 PM, while they were traveling northbound, their Bronco was slammed from behind at a high rate of speed. The driver of the other car was identified as 19-year-old Lauren Kemp from Concord. The impact was so violent that both vehicles were forced into the highway median.
Both cars were basically totaled.
Was Rudy Giuliani in a Car Accident Targeted?
Whenever a high-profile figure like Giuliani is involved in something like this, the conspiracy theories start churning instantly. Was it a hit? Was it political?
Ragusa was quick to shut that down on social media, telling people to stop the "unfounded conspiracy theories." The New Hampshire State Police also weighed in, stating they didn't believe the crash had anything to do with the domestic violence incident they’d just reported. It seems like it was just a terrible case of bad timing—perhaps "rubbernecking" at the police lights across the median or just a tragic accident.
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- Vehicle 1: Ford Bronco (Giuliani as passenger)
- Vehicle 2: Honda HR-V (Kemp driving)
- Location: I-93 Northbound, Manchester, NH
- Injuries: Fractured spine, lacerations, contusions
Recovery and the Aftermath
Rudy didn't stay down for long. He’s tough; you have to give him that. He was discharged from the hospital just a few days later, though he was spotted wearing a pretty substantial torso brace and using a wheelchair during the 9/11 anniversary ceremonies shortly after.
He even joked about it.
On his "America’s Mayor Live" show, he quipped that the brace made him look like a "gladiator." He’s always been one for theatrics. But the pain was real. He described the whiplash as "excruciating."
Interestingly, the timing of the accident coincided with some major political moves. Just two days after the crash, Donald Trump announced he would be awarding Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Later that year, in November 2025, Trump also issued him a full pardon for his legal troubles related to the 2020 election.
What We Know About the Investigation
The New Hampshire State Police took the lead on this. They reviewed dashcam and body-worn camera footage from the troopers who were already nearby for that first incident. As of the latest updates, no charges have been filed against the 19-year-old driver.
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It looks like a straightforward, albeit scary, highway accident.
If you’re looking for the "why" behind the search for was Rudy Giuliani in a car accident, it’s because the news cycle moves so fast that these events get buried under his other headlines—disbarment, bankruptcy, and pardons. But for a few days in late 2025, the focus wasn't on his legal fees; it was on whether "America's Mayor" was going to walk again.
Actionable Insights and Fact-Checking
If you are following the timeline of Rudy Giuliani’s recent years, here is what you need to keep straight to separate fact from fiction:
- Verify the date: The accident occurred on August 30, 2025. Any reports claiming a "recent" accident in early 2024 or 2026 are likely confusing the timeline or referring to his fall at the RNC in 2024.
- Check the medical details: He suffered a fractured thoracic vertebra (spine), not a neck or head injury. He was conscious and alert throughout the ordeal.
- The Domestic Violence Connection: While he did assist a woman right before the crash, police found no evidence that the crash was a retaliatory act or related to that call.
- Legal Impact: The accident briefly delayed some of his legal proceedings, but most of his major settlements—like the one with Georgia election workers—were finalized separately in early 2025.
Monitor official New Hampshire State Police press releases for any final determinations regarding the investigation. If you are tracking his recovery, his official broadcasts remain the primary source for his personal health updates.