Douglas County Administrator Craig Weinaug says he will return to his position when he recovers from injuries he suffered in a Nov. 2 bicycle accident.

Douglas County Administrator Craig Weinaug said from a Topeka hospital room Monday that he would definitely return to his job and to cycling.

Weinaug was injured during a morning ride Nov. 2 when he lost control of his bicycle on Douglas County Road 458 south of Lawrence. He suffered four cracked ribs, two compression fractures to vertebrae and numerous cuts requiring 42 stitches, he said.

He was taken by ambulance to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, where he remains following surgery for his back injuries, Weinaug said. He expected to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility Monday or Tuesday for about a five-day stay before returning to his home.

Weinaug said he has no idea why he lost control of the bike at about 6 a.m. after riding 26 miles on his regular route. He was on the paved shoulder, heading west from U.S. Highway 59. He said he was fortunate that a passing motorist witnessed the incident and immediately called for help.

Weinaug is known for answering calls and emails when home sick. He would not be doing that during his current recovery, he said, and has put a limit of one work call per day. His goal is to return to work as soon as possible, but he admitted that wouldn’t happen in November.

“For a few weeks, I’m not conducting any county business,” he said. “I have good people working for me. I trust them to take care of things. I have no intention of resigning the job I love and will ride my bike again.”