By Jay Rey
Buffalo News
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Buffalo police officer remains in critical condition at Erie County Medical Center after his patrol car crashed early Saturday morning while responding to a call.
Christopher Tomasula, 31, a rookie officer for the Northeast District, underwent surgery Saturday morning after suffering injuries that included trauma to his head and chest, Police Commissioner H. Mc- Carthy Gipson said Saturday afternoon.
Following surgery, Tomasula was in “critical but stable” condition, Gipson said.
“He had surgery [Saturday] morning to repair some of the damage and that was successful,” Gipson said.
Gipson did not go into details because of patient confidentiality but indicated Tomasula would likely undergo more surgery.
Gipson was at the hospital with Tomasula and his family. Prior to surgery, Tomasula was conscious and Gipson offered words of encouragement. Mayor Byron W. Brown
also visited Tomasula in the intensive- care unit and said at one point Tomasula opened his eyes.
“He’s a strong young man and a courageous young man,” Brown said Saturday. “We’re praying for the best.”
Tomasula was responding to a call at about 2 a. m. Saturday when his vehicle struck a pole at East Delavan Avenue and William Gaiter Parkway.
Tomasula was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be freed by Buffalo firefighters, Gipson said.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
“The accident investigation unit responded and is still looking into it,” Gipson said.
Tomasula, who is single with no children, works the midnight platoon in the Northeast District.
“He’s a relatively young officer, been on less than a year,” Gipson said. “But he’s a very active officer. His superiors speak highly of him. And he’s well-respected by officers in his platoon.”
In fact, his fellow officers were jamming the phone lines at ECMC Saturday trying to get updates on Tomasula’s condition, prompting the department to provide updates on Tomasula over the police radio.
“We put it out on the air and will continue to do so,” Gipson said.
Copyright 2009 Buffalo News