Suffolk officer struck by alleged drunk driver released from hospital after weeks in coma
STONY BROOK, Long Island (WABC) -- A Suffolk County police officer who spent weeks in a medically induced coma after a drunk driving crash on Long Island was finally released from the hospital Friday.
Hundreds of Suffolk County police officers lined the exit of Stony Brook University Hospital as Officer Tim Thrane was officially discharged after suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Officer Thrane was struck by a motor vehicle on November 2 while on foot setting up flares to conduct traffic control at the scene of a previous car accident.
The father of three was rushed to Stony Brook, where he was intubated and placed in a medically induced coma for weeks.
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After a miraculous recovery at Stony Brook for over a month, Thrane and his family were met by applause and support from fellow brothers and sisters in blue.
Thrane was greeted by his wife and three small children as he was wheeled out of the hospital in a stretcher.
Raw Video: Officer Thrane leaves Stony Brook University Hospital
His neck was in a brace, and Thrane kissed and hugged each of his children.
Stony Brook University Dr. James Vosswinkel, who treated Thrane, said the officer was close to death on several occasions.
He said the force of the collision cracked Thrane's skull, which led to a life-threatening increase of blood pressure in his brain.
Surgeons had to open his skull to let the blood out, and Thrane had to be resuscitated several times.
Dr. Vosswinkel said Thrane then developed a condition causing his entire body to inflame and his lungs to almost collapse.
Dr. Vosswinkel said four or five times, a ventilator wasn't enough to keep Thrane alive -- and doctors had to resort to rescue therapies just to keep oxygen in his body.
After leaving Stony Brook University Hospital Friday morning, Thrane was taken to St. Charles Rehabilitation Center for inpatient therapy.
He will have to learn how to walk and feed himself again.
During the incident, all the ligaments in his neck were broken, and after spending four a half weeks unconscious in a hospital bed, most of his muscles have atrophied.
Doctors are hopeful Officer Thrane will be able to be home with his family for Christmas.
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Also in attendance to greet Officer Thrane were three Suffolk officers who also have been gravely injured in the line of duty.
Detective Nicholas Guerrero suffered a severe head injury when he was run over by a fleeing suspect in September 2014, Officer Mark Collins who was shot in 2015, and Detective Christopher Racioppo who was stabbed in the leg last April.
"These three officers are here today to support Tim Thrane and really demonstrate to him that you can recover from these life-threatening injuries and return to work," Acting Suffolk Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron said.
At the time he was struck, Thrane was standing near his vehicle when a driver in a GMC Yukon stopped to ask him a question.
A Chevrolet pickup truck driven by 38-year-old William Petersohn then slammed into the Yukon, which spun around, hit the officer, and pinned him underneath it.
The pickup then hit a marked police car.
Petersohn was charged with DWI.
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