Neeson Hurt in Motorcycle Crash

L I T H G O W, N.Y., July 12, 2000 -- Actor Liam Neeson suffered a broken pelvisafter his motorcycle collided with a deer near his home,authorities said.

Neeson, 48, was riding his 1989 Harley Davidson motorcyclearound noon Tuesday when a deer jumped into the road, according tothe Dutchess County Sheriff’s office.

Neeson, who was wearing his helmet, was thrown from themotorcycle and landed in an earth embankment just before it raninto a tree about 70 miles north of New York City.

The Oscar-nominated Irish actor suffered a fractured rightpelvis, a chipped left pelvis, and multiple leg abrasions. He wastaken to Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Conn., a nursing supervisorconfirmed, but she refused to release any information on hiscondition.

‘In Good Condition’

“I’m told that he’s in good condition and that he’s restingcomfortably,” said Alan Nierob, Neeson’s publicist. “We’reexpecting a quick recovery.”

Herman Staats of Hyde Park was driving his truck when he spottedNeeson lying on the roadside and alerted emergency response crews.

“He managed to crawl his way up back to the road,” Staatssaid. “He wanted me to drive him back to his house right up theroad, but I could tell his hips were bothering him.”

Neeson, who married actress Natasha Richardson in 1994 at theirtown of Washington home, is among Hollywood’s top leading men.

Neeson was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal ofOskar Schindler in the 1993 epic Schindler’s List. He hasstarred in Stars Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace and RobRoy.

Sheriff’s deputies said the deer initially ran off, but diednearby a short time after the accident.

Neeson and Richardson are among a host of celebrities who callDutchess County home, including actors Mary Tyler Moore, EddieMurphy and James Earl Jones, as well as singers Natalie Merchantand Pete Seeger.