'Nothing short of a miracle': Hero cop released from hospital after nearly dying in car crash

LAPD officer released from hospital after nearly dying in car crash

A Los Angeles Police officer was released from County-USC Medical Center on Tuesday. His fellow officers cheered him on as he was brought out in a wheelchair.

LOS ANGELES - Fewer than two weeks after he was nearly killed in a terrible automobile accident while on duty, a Los Angeles Police officer was released from County-USC Medical Center on Tuesday. His fellow officers cheered him on as he was brought out in a wheelchair.

At just 25-years-old Officer Armando Medina was in a life-death battle. He and his partner from Newton Division, Officer Eric Sifuentes, were responding to a backup call while on duty when they were struck by a tow truck at a South LA intersection.

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The impact was powerful.

The wreckage so twisted it required the jaws of life to free the two men from the police SUV. The entire drama was shown live on FOX11.

Medina's partner had less serious injuries and was soon released. But Medina was critical and fought for weeks through his injuries. The accident received a lot of coverage. It happened during the height of the BLM protest and civil unrest and while police were working around the clock.

Today, an emotional Medina allowed me to ask a few questions. He seemed genuinely moved by his colleagues being present. He held a medal in his hand. I asked him who gave it to him.

Through tears, he told me his captain had given it to him. And that it said, "be strong." Those were words he chose to live by ..... telling me he couldn't wait to go back to work at the Los Angeles Police Department.

Also present at today's poignant farewell was Dr. Kenji Inaba, Chief Trauma Surgeon at County-USC.

In a stranger than life turn, Dr. Inaba is not only a surgeon, he's also a reserve officer. He attended to Armando's injuries. I mentioned that Officer Medina would like to get back to work as soon as possible.

The doctor was enthusiastic his patient could return to work one day.

And as for Medina's fellow officers?

They expressed gratitude and joy he was going home.

These are serious times we live in.

Captain Alex Baez said, Officer Medina's recovery was "nothing short of a miracle."