Police Recruit Hit By Car After Stopping To Help Motorist

By Anna Deem in News on Oct 23, 2010 6:30PM

Daniel Vasquez, 28, a new police recruit, was driving home from his fourth day of training on Friday morning when he spotted another driver that had crashed on the Stevenson Expy. Vasquez pulled over to help, and moments later, he was hit by another car. Vasquez was taken to Stroger Hospital for head trauma, but according to State Police Master Sgt. Devin Stokes, the injury is not life-threatening.

"We stress here at the academy from day one about how being a police officer is about serving the public, and he took that to heart,'' said Lt. Michael Pigott, the commanding officer for recruit training at the Chicago Police Academy, to the Chicago Sun-Times. "He had a wonderful attitude." Pigott stated that he did not know what Vasquez's condition was on Friday, nor when Vasquez would be able to come back to work. "I am just hoping for a full recovery,'' Pigott said to the Sun-Times. "I know I will say a prayer that this young man will continue his training and continue helping people."