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IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho State Police trooper critically injured within the line of obligation whereas responding to a car hearth has been launched from the hospital.

Sgt. Mike Wendler, a Marine Corps veteran and a 16-plus-year member of the Idaho State police, was damage on Sept. 8. He responded to a car hearth at 8:30 a.m. on Interstate 84 in Jerome County and was hit by a automobile whereas directing visitors.

“We have at all times had that concern. There’s at all times the lengthy kisses goodbye, and the, ‘I like yous’ and the, ‘Hey, if something had been to occur to me, the lieutenant will present up on the door,’” Amy Wendler, Mike’s spouse, informed EastIdahoNews close to his Japanese Idaho Regional Medical Middle hospital room.

Amy Wendler informed EastIdahoNews that Mike spent 22 days on the medical heart. On Saturday, troopers, legislation enforcement, firefighters, medical employees and associates lined up as Mike Wendler walked out of the hospital with Amy.

Troopers from Idaho State Police escorted him on the 2½-hour drive dwelling from Idaho Falls to Twin Falls.

“We’re so excited to deliver him dwelling,” Amy mentioned.

The day of the crash

Amy Wendler remembers the day her husband was critically injured. She mentioned a lieutenant confirmed up at her door and informed her to pack a bag. She remembers the day was a blur and begging God to avoid wasting her husband.

“He was given CPR for 22 minutes. He was (airlifted) to EIRMC,” Amy Wendler defined. “To be trustworthy, each time a physician or nurse would come out of the doorways, I’d panic, considering that they had been going to inform me one thing horrible and that is really all I bear in mind of the day.”

Dr. Adam Meziani, a trauma surgeon on the medical heart, was one of many first folks to see Mike Wendler.

“Primarily based on what we had heard about his damage, there was a excessive probability that it is probably not survivable,” Meziani mentioned. “He was the worst neurologic situation that now we have. Fully unresponsive, needing a respiration tube to breathe.”

Mike Wendler had a traumatic mind damage. His pores and skin was ripped off his proper hand and he wanted stitches. He had a jaw fracture and his enamel had been knocked out.

The Jerome Police Division investigated and legal prices had been filed in opposition to a 22-year-old Jerome, Idaho, lady, who has not been recognized. In response to a information launch, officers consider the lady was commuting to work in a 2012 Hyundai Sonata when she approached the scene of the car hearth. Police say she used her cellular phone to take an image of the incident and failed to note different automobiles slowing. She swerved to keep away from colliding with one other car and hit Wendler.

The driving force remained on the scene and cooperated with legislation enforcement. Within the launch, the lady acknowledged texting whereas driving and mentioned she deleted the image of the emergency automobiles. Officers discovered she had a suspended license. The Jerome Police Division really useful misdemeanor prices to the Jerome Metropolis Prosecutor’s Workplace for driving with out privileges, reckless driving, and destruction, alteration or concealment of proof.

“This has modified my life, my husband’s life and my youngsters’s life perpetually. It is not value sending somebody to the hospital, probably taking their profession,” mentioned Amy Wendler.

What’s subsequent

Mike Wendler has handled the results of his traumatic mind damage. He did not know who Amy was at first and did not perceive why he was within the hospital.

“He did not know me, he did not know our youngsters … that is been the toughest half is that any individual was distracted whereas they had been driving and virtually took my husband and my youngsters’s father,” Amy Wendler mentioned.

She’s hoping the distracted driving legislation could be extra strict. In response to the Idaho statute for distracted driving, a violation for a primary offense can value $75 and $150 for a second offense inside a three-year interval. For every subsequent offense inside a three-year interval, the offender could be punished by a tremendous of $300.

“It’s not value it. I do know all of us sooner or later have needed to reply to that textual content … this was so avoidable. This didn’t should occur,” Amy Wendler mentioned.

Mike Wendler’s co-workers have felt the results too.

“I used to be with him for the primary 5 days. It was tough. We all know this could occur. We have all had shut calls however to really have it occur, it was tough watching Mike undergo that,” mentioned Sgt. Tagg Williams with Idaho State police.

By way of all of it, Mike has been therapeutic remarkably.

“He is fairly frankly a miracle. He is actually progressed rapidly and manner prior to any of the medical doctors anticipated … I give all of that credit score to God,” Amy mentioned.

There may be hope for him. Possibly in the future, he can return to Idaho State police. Solely time will inform.

“I believe there’s a likelihood that he’ll be capable to get again on the highway and get again to being a trooper. Not solely is he a really sturdy man, he is without doubt one of the most clever troopers that I do know. To see him stroll out, to see the place we’re immediately from the place I noticed him three weeks in the past, is nothing wanting a miracle. I by no means thought we might be on this place to see him stroll out,” Williams mentioned.

Mike has an extended highway of restoration forward of him however it’s the positivity and targets which were set that is carried him via. Going dwelling will probably be a brand new journey.

“It is really humbling the entire help now we have had behind us,” Amy mentioned.

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