WASHINGTON — Louis J. Freeh, the director of the F.B.I. from 1993 to 2001, was hospitalized on Monday after sustaining significant injuries in a one-car accident in Vermont, according to law enforcement officials.

Mr. Freeh, 64, broke at least one of his legs and required surgery, the officials said.

The accident occurred early Monday afternoon on Route 12 in Barnard in eastern Vermont, the Vermont State Police said.

Mr. Freeh drove his 2010 GMC Yukon off the road, striking a mailbox, a row of shrubs and a tree before stopping, the police said. He was wearing his seatbelt and was alone, officials said; no one else was injured.

Louis J. Freeh

He was taken by helicopter to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

"The thoughts and prayers of the entire F.B.I. remain with former Director Freeh and his family tonight," the agency's current director, James B. Comey, said.

As director, Mr. Freeh frequently clashed with President Bill Clinton and insisted that investigations of Mr. Clinton and his cabinet officers be run by an independent prosecutor.

Since leaving the F.B.I. in 2001, Mr. Freeh has worked as a lawyer in private practice. Most recently, he conducted an internal investigation on behalf of Penn State into its handling of the Jerry Sandusky sexual-abuse case.

Mr. Freeh reached several damning conclusions, saying that the university's senior officials had shown a "total and consistent disregard" for the welfare of children and had worked together to conceal Mr. Sandusky's assaults.