(1) He wasn't wearing a seatbelt, even though the state troopers he oversees routinely ticket NJ motorists for failure to wear seatbelts.
(2) He was speeding in extremely inclement weather - a common practice for Corzine's predecessor Jim McGreevey was to shuttle back and forth through the state using a 100 mph motorcade of state troopers with sirens blazing. Corzine was using the exact same technique.
(3) Corzine's only companion in the SUV besides his driver was a woman described as a 23 year old aide. She was treated for minor injuries and rushed from the scene.
(4) The reports say he was sitting in the front passenger seat at the moment of impact - but he was found in the rear of the vehicle. I have absolutely no knowledge of what usually happens, but is it common for a full grown man to be flung backwards over the top of a captain's chair and then sustain injuries to his ribs and legs? The physics of the described accident appear bizarre.
Thrust never changes direction. If the Gov was moving at the speed of the vehicle and the vehicl suddenly decelerates and or changes direction, the free bodies inside will have that inertial force behind them. If, say. the dash or door or roof etc get in the way of the now flying free body it will do what a rubber ball will do in the same situation: Bounce. All over the place. Unbelievably.