Linda Yu recovering from accident

Linda Yu

Linda Yu

Veteran Chicago news anchor Linda Yu is off the air indefinitely while recovering from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident earlier in the week.

Yu, 67, was out of town when the accident happened, according to colleagues at WLS-Channel 7, who said they believed she was riding on the back of a motorcycle.

Officials of the ABC-owned station confirmed that Yu broke her leg and underwent surgery. “She is in good spirits, and we hope to have her back soon; however, it remains unclear exactly when she will return,” John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7, said in a statement. “Everyone wishes her a speedy recovery.”

No other details were available Wednesday.

The longest running Monday-through-Friday news anchor in Chicago, Yu joined ABC 7 in 1984 after five years on NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5. She currently anchors the top-rated 4 p.m. weekday newscast with Alan Krashesky and delivers news updates on “Windy City Live.”

In 2005 she was inducted in the Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Thursday afternoon update: Linda Yu posted this message on Facebook: “If you have heard the news that I was in a traffic accident, it's true. I am OK. Am so so grateful for all the good wishes, concern and love messages coming my way. My left leg is broken. Have had one surgery. Surgeon expecting to do a second soon. For that reason, I can't tell you yet when I'll be back to ABC7. But I will be as soon as possible! Thank you for caring.”