JoAnn Faiella: Port St. Lucie mayor taken to hospital after vehicle hits ditch during land tour

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mayor JoAnn Faiella was transported to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center Thursday at noon after a vehicle she was traveling in hit a ditch by Glades Cutoff Road.

The St. Lucie Fire District responded after Faiella said she couldn't move because of intense neck and back pain. Fire District officials said she was in stable condition.

Faiella and other council members, including city staff, were conducting a special council meeting touring ranch land out west for possible purchase.

The proposal was to be discussed at a future City Council meeting.

After emergency officials responded, council members, City Manager Greg Oravec, City Attorney Roger Orr, Councilman-elect Ron Bowen and other city staff were transported back to the Glades waste water treatment facility.

The city later released this statement:

The Port St. Lucie City Council toured five square miles of agricultural land west of the city Thursday morning in preparation for future discussion of a possible purchase of the land by the Utility Systems Department. As the tour was ending, a 12-seat all-terrain vehicle, called an Armadillo, which Mayor JoAnn Faiella and others were riding in fell partially into a ditch, stopping abruptly and injuring her.

She was transported to St. Lucie Medical Center by St. Lucie County fire rescue.

The Mayor appreciates concern for her well-being, but is not immediately available for comment. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

The wptv.com web team contributed to this report