US governor pays seat belt fine

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The governor of the US state of New Jersey has paid a fine for not wearing a seat belt during a car accident in which he almost died.

Jon Corzine fractured his left thigh and broke 11 ribs during the accident as his vehicle reached 91mph (146km/h).

The sports utility vehicle was being driven by a state trooper when the incident happened on 12 April.

Mr Corzine, who spent 18 days in hospital recovering, said he was sorry for setting "a very poor example".

The car he was travelling in was grazed by a truck and veered into a guard rail on a road near Atlantic City.

"I certainly hope the state will forgive me," Mr Corzine said.

Mr Corzine paid a fine of $46 (Â£23) for breaking state law by not wearing a seat belt while sitting in the front seat of the car.

Mr Corzine met police investigators on Tuesday to discuss the accident, a spokesman said.