Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff broke his leg Saturday afternoon during a motorcycle ride in Lindon.
Shurtleff was preparing for a charity event today, Fall Ride For Fallen Officers, to benefit officers who died while on duty. He hit some gravel on the bike and fell at about 2 p.m., breaking his leg in at least four places, said Paul Murphy, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office. Shurtleff, who was wearing a helmet, was originally taken to Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem but was flown to the University of Utah Hospital for additional treatment. Murphy said it will be at least eight weeks before Shurtleff will be able to walk again. Doctors are debating when to do surgery, Murphy said.
He said Shurtleff's first concern was the charity event.
"He was really worried that this accident would somehow create problems for the motorcycle ride," Murphy said. He said Shurtleff was hoping today's event "would be a big success."
His second worry was about the bike, which was loaned to him by Timpanogos Harley-Davidson for the event.
The attorney general had been helping to plan the event for several months and looked forward to participating, Murphy said. This is the first such charity ride, but Shurtleff hopes it will become an annual event.
The ride will help raise funds for a $1.3 million memorial at the Capitol.
"It represents the risk every police officer takes when they show up for work," Murphy said. "This memorial will be a place where people can remember their loved ones and honor those that died on duty."
He added that Shurtleff is particularly interested in this because he is the state's top law enforcement official.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will lead the motorcycle ride, which begins at 10 a.m., from Thanksgiving Point to the state Capitol.
E-mail: csmith@desnews.com