Niki Taylor Begins Physical Rehab

By Stephen M. Silverman

06/27/2001 at 01:00 PM EDT

Supermodel and Cover Girl cosmetics spokeswoman Niki Taylor, 26, left an Atlanta hospital for a private rehabilitation center on Tuesday, eight weeks after a nearly fatal April 30 car crash that caused severe liver damage. Taylor, who had been riding in a car that crashed into a telephone pole, was "admitted to an undisclosed physical rehabilitation facility in Atlanta, where she is expected to be for the next several weeks," the model's manager, Lou Taylor (no relation), said in a statement. Niki Taylor had been upgraded from critical to good condition at Grady Memorial Hospital last Thursday. No other details about the state of her health have been provided. At the time of the accident, driver Chad Renegar, 27, told police that he looked down to answer his cell phone and then lost control of his vehicle, a 1993 Nissan Maxima. Renegar and passenger John Lack, 30, were treated for minor injuries and released shortly after the crash. Taylor is the mother of twin 6-year-olds, Jake and Hunter, with her ex-husband, Matt Martinez. The boys are staying with their father as their mom recuperates, reported PEOPLE.