Long Island officer nearly killed in crash during funeral procession leaves hospital ICU
STONY BROOK, Long Island (WABC) -- A police officer on Long Island, nearly killed in a crash during a funeral procession last month, received a round of applause on Thursday after spending a month in the ICU, where he was on life support for some time.
It was the power of modern medicine and the Nassau County police officer's will to live, but doctors say 53-year-old Michael Hyland survived because of something even more powerful.
"They were by his bed every minute," said Dr. James Vosswinkel, a trauma surgeon at Stony Brook University Hospital.
Hyland left Stony Brook University Hospital after spending 29 days in the ICU, surrounded by his supporters, and his trauma surgeon, who called his recovery nothing short of remarkable.
"People don't get through these injuries, so when I say he was literally broken head to toe, it was that point," Dr. Vosswinkel said.
It was back on October 6 on North Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst, Officer Hyland was on his motorcycle, part of a funeral escort for a relative of a Nassau County police officer, when he was struck on his bike by a pickup truck.
"It was an accident," said Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Patrick Ryder. "They put smiles on families' faces in the worst times, and unfortunately that day turned to be a worse time for us."
When the doctor said Officer Hyland was broken head to toe, he wasn't exaggerating. He punctured his lung, broke the vertebrae under his chest cavity, broke his femur, his hip, and his tibia, but that was only the beginning.
"Blood around his brain. He separated his spine from his skull. They call that almost an internal decapitation. Which, if it was worse, it would have been fatal," Dr. Vosswinkel said.
Instead, through sheer resolve, Hyland now makes his way to an inpatient rehab center, but police and doctors are using this case as a wake up call.
"When we're out there, please be safe. Think about how you're driving," said Nassau County PBA President Tommy Shevlin.
Hyland, has a long road ahead of him, but has more gratitude than most of us will ever know.
"Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart," he said.
Despite all the broken bones, nothing could break his spirit, nor the bond with those who are sworn to protect and serve.
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