Nassau County Cop Hurt In Hit-And-Run Leaves Hospital, Returns Home
PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A police officer injured in a hit and run crash on Long Island took new steps on his road to recovery on Friday.
Officer George Day, a 14-year veteran of the force, was struck on July 6 in North Bellmore. He has been recovering from multiple surgeries to repair broken bones and other injuries, including to his wrist, hip, femur, all his ribs and a collapsed lung.
Using a walker, motorcycle officer Day was surrounded by his family as he left the St. Charles rehabilitation center in Port Jefferson where he had been for the last month.
"This is huge," he said Friday. "I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. My family can never repay but I'll repay you by getting better."
Day was traveling northbound on Bellmore Avenue when he was struck by a Subaru sedan traveling westbound on Alice Avenue.
Police say 40-year-old Hussam Rajab was behind the wheel of the car.
Day was thrown from the motorcycle in the crash. Rajab did not stop.
Rajab's front license plate and bumper came off in the crash and were found at the scene.
Later that morning, another patrol officer spotted Rajab's vehicle on Sunrise Highway near the Meadowbrook Parkway, traveling back toward North Bellmore.
The officer pulled Rajab over and took him into custody.
Rajab has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident with a serious physical injury.
