Speeding driver sentenced to prison in crash that injured Suffolk County officer
RIVERHEAD (WABC) -- A driver who crashed into a Suffolk County police cruiser was sentenced to prison on Tuesday.
Cody Fisher was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana when he slammed into Officer Brendon Gallagher's patrol car back in January.
Fisher was estimated to be driving at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour at the time of the crash.
Nine months after the crash that injured Officer Gallagher, the Highway Patrol cop came face-to-face with the drunk and drugged driver that almost took his life.
"Following surgery, I was placed in medically induced coma and put on a ventilator," Gallagher said.
Officer Gallagher, who is a former Army veteran, was on patrol on January 5 when he encountered 29-year-old Cody Fisher driving more than 10 miles per hour on the Long Island Expressway.
After crashing into a pole, Fisher was arrested and charged with vehicular assault and assault on a police officer.
He pleaded guilty last month to a 10-count indictment, and the judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison on Tuesday.
Fisher offered an emotional apology.
"I would like to apologize to Officer Gallagher for my actions that day. I wish I could take it back," he said.
"I think he's just sorry he got caught. Whenever somebody gets caught. They're always sorry," Gallagher said.
Fisher violated his probation of a violent road rage encounter in Queens when he pulled a gun on another driver, officials said.
Gallagher is still out of work on medical leave and hopes to return soon.
This is not his first near-death encounter. Gallagher was stabbed while responding to a call three years ago.
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