US envoy Kerry has bike accident, is flown to Swiss hospital

GENEVA (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had a bike crash Sunday outside of Geneva and was flown by helicopter to a Swiss hospital for treatment of a likely leg injury, a U.S. official said.

Kerry fell on his bike but did not lose consciousness, State Department spokesman John Kirby said, adding that the top American diplomat was in stable condition.

Kerry's accident happened near Scionzier, France, 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of the Swiss border, a day after he had been holding nuclear talks with Iran's foreign minister in Geneva.

Kerry was transported to Geneva's main hospital HUG, where he was being evaluated, Kirby said. A paramedic traveling with his motorcade immediately examined the secretary after his bike apparently hit a curb, causing the fall, Kirby said. X-rays were being taken of Kerry's right leg.

It was unclear how long he was expected to stay there and how that might affect the status of Kerry's current, four-nation trip.

Kerry had planned to travel later Sunday to Madrid for meetings with Spain's king and prime minister, before spending two days in Paris for an international conference on combating Islamic State militants.

Kerry often bikes on his diplomatic journeys. During discussions in late March and early April between world powers and Iran, he took several bike trips during breaks in the negotiations in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Kerry met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for six hours in a Geneva hotel on Saturday as the sides now work to seal a comprehensive accord by June 30.