By Sean McDonnell
Akron Beacon Journal
AKRON, Ohio — An Akron police officer was hospitalized for four days after a car crashed into him and three other officers.
Officer Ryan Hughes said he’s grateful to be home, saying his injuries could have been much worse. But he’s hoping his injury is a wake-up call and leads to drivers being more careful.
“Put the distractions down,” Hughes said. “It can wait, but you can’t bring somebody back that gets killed.”
Hughes, 35, was able to leave the hospital Wednesday afternoon after being there since the crash Saturday morning. He said he suffered fractures to both kneecaps, had to get stitches on his forehead and suffered road rash from the crash.
The other three officers have since returned to work, Lt. Michael Miller said. Hughes said he could be out until the end of the year.
The driver that struck them, a 45-year-old man, is still in critical condition in the hospital.
Crash led to four Akron officers being hurt
The crash happened just before 3 a.m. in the 1000 block of East Archwood Avenue.
Hughes said a homeowner had called police alerting them to a vehicle that someone had parked and then left.
He said he and three other officers responded and tried to find the vehicle’s owner before having it towed.
Hughes said he and another officer parked their cruisers behind the disabled vehicle, which was in the process of being towed before the crash. Both cruisers and the tow truck had overhead lights running, he said.
He said standing outside and speaking with officers in the cruiser behind him when they heard the vehicle coming. Hughes said he saw it coming and thought the vehicle would see them and slow down.
Before he knew it, he was trying to get out of the way. He said he saw the crash and jumped before he felt himself “flying through the air.”
Police say a Hyundai Sonata was heading west down Archwood when it slammed into the back of one of the police cruiser. The crash remains under investigation.
All four officers were taken to the hospital. Hughes and his partner have been on the force for three years. Both were training an officer that had only been on the force for a month or less.
Hughes said he’s not mad or upset, but that he wants people to realize that distracted driving can hurt people and their families.
He said “everyone’s got families to go home to.” Hughes said it’s not just police officers being struck. Firefighters, tow truck drivers, road workers and stranded motorists have all been victims of distracted driving or drivers not moving over.
Even the drivers themselves can be seriously hurt, and that hurts their families, too, Hughes said.
“This affects a lot of people, not just you and me, but a there’s a multitude of other people it affects if bad things happen,” Hughes said.
Hughes said it’s definitely scary for officers to worry about this happening to them. He said he luckily has a great support system, both in the department and at home. Many people have reached out offering help, and the nonprofit Legacy of Honor even provided him with a new recliner so he could use it while he recovers.
As he recovers, he said he knows it could have been worse. Hughes said he hopes his message to stay focused while driving helps save a life in the future.
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