New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey was almost the victim of a car accident on Sunday when another vehicle somehow managed to roll down a 50-foot grassy mound, cross the median, and slam into a guardrail:

The acting governor said he and a state trooper, who was driving him south to Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport where Codey is to present a trophy to the winner of this year's Haskell race this evening, rushed to aid the driver of the small car. The Senate president has New Jersey's top job while Gov. Jon Corzine is away this weekend out of state.

Codey and the state trooper found the driver of the other car unconscious, and the senator held back the man's head until he came to.

All in a day's work. . .