A 12-year veteran of the Ohio police department was recently left partially paralyzed after an accident with a drunk driver damaged his spinal cord.

The accident occurred last Thursday when the 32-year-old officer was searching a road for drugs that had been thrown from a car. While searching, the officer was hit from behind by a pickup truck that was driven by a 34-year-old man. The officer was immediately taken to the hospital where doctors told his family that he would probably never walk again.

The driver of the truck was found to have a blood-alcohol content of over three times the legal limit. The man had also been arrested for drunk driving on three other occasions. He is currently awaiting trial for charges of intoxicated assault.

During a press conference held this week, the officer’s family said that he is recovering from his injuries, and, although he will not walk again, they are grateful that he is still alive.

If you or someone you love has suffered partial paralysis from a spinal cord injury, please contact the New Jersey paraplegia lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., at 800-346-5529.