US ambassador Douglas Kmiec was involved in a serious road accident in California on Wednesday, when a nun died.

According to a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol West Valley department, Professor Kmiec, 58, had “moderate injuries” and did not require surgery after the accident.

Mgr John Sheridan, who was on the front passenger seat, was also injured in the accident and was yesterday in a stable condition after undergoing surgery.

The police spokesman confirmed that Prof. Kmiec was driving the car along Las Virgenes Canyon Road and Mulholland Drive when, for some unexplained reason, the vehicle drifted off the road onto the shoulder, crashing into a drainage ditch.

Sister Mary Campbell, from Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church, was certified dead on site. Prof. Kmiec and Mgr Sheridan were flown to UCLA Medical Trauma Centre by helicopter.

No other people or cars were involved in the accident and police investigations are ongoing.

According to a spokesman for the US Embassy, Prof. Kmiec was on holiday in California with his family. The embassy was not in a position to give any details.

Prof. Kmiec was appointed ambassador to Malta by President Barack Obama almost a year ago. At the time, he was a leading professor of constitutional law at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Between 1985 and 1988 he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and confirmed by the Senate in 1988 as head of the office of legal counsel.

A devout Catholic and Republican, Prof. Kmiec caused a stir in the last Presidential election when he switched allegiances and supported President Obama’s bid.

The main political parties and the General Workers’ Union have wished Prof. Kmiec a speedy recovery.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com