LI Officer Hospitalized By High-Speed Crash 'Miraculously' Going Home

BRENTWOOD, NY — Brendon Gallagher— the Suffolk County Police Officer who was airlifted and hospitalized after a high-speed car chase and crash hospitalized him with a torn aorta and split abdomen—is slated to be released from Stony Brook University Hospital on Monday, police announced.

The crash left Gallagher on life support until Jan. 13 when police said he was "upgraded to fair condition" and off the ventilator. Then on Friday, police told Patch he was "still hospitalized and continuing to recover. Just three days later, Gallagher is going home.

"Miraculously, after 22 days in the hospital, Officer Gallagher will be released from the hospital to continue recovering at home," police said in a statement on Sunday.

On the evening of Jan. 5, Gallagher tried to pull over a 2021 Ford Mustang driven by Cody Fisher, 29, of Brentwood, who drove by going 95 to 100 miles an hour near Exit 55 on the Long Island Expressway.

Fisher tried to flee in a high-speed chase and eventually "sideswiped" Gallagher's vehicle, causing the officer's SUV to fly off the road, strike a tree, and overturn.

Meanwhile, Fisher crashed into a light post and was placed in custody by off-duty Nassau County Officer Timothy Deegan, who happened to be passing by on his way to work, police said.

After EMS rescued Gallagher from the "tangled mess" his SUV became while "controlling his hemorrhaging," he was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital with injuries "so severe, they are typically considered not survivable," said Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring during a press conference.

Upon arrival, Gallagher was under the care of doctor James Vosswinkel, SBUH's chief of Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care—the same surgeon who saved his life two years before after the brutal stabbing that nearly cost him his life.

"Right when he came in I was able to ascertain that he had a belly full of blood, he was bleeding internally," Vosswinkel said at the press conference. "We also saw—and this is something I've not seen in my entire 23-year career on someone who's lived — he split his entire abdominal wall open across his pelvis. Through the skin, through the muscle, it was completely lacerated open. It was a very, very dire time at that point."

Fisher was transported to South Shore University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said. He was later released and charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, second-degree assault, second-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, and reckless driving, police said.

While Gallagher fought for his life for the second time, Long Island honored his dedication to the force. Waring said that in his short time on the force, Gallagher has received eight awards, including two department recognitions, a Purple Heart Medal, a Combat Gold Medal, and Cop of the Year.

On Jan. 17, Fisher was indicted for assault on a police officer and other charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said.

Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins ordered Fisher to be held on $1 million cash, $2 million bond, or $10 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, and Fisher’s driving privileges in New York State were suspended, the DA said.

Fisher is due back in court on Feb. 20 and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count, the DA said.