Two and a half weeks after sustaining serious injuries in a head-on collision, an Ocala Police Department sergeant is out of the hospital and taking the next steps on his recovery journey.
On Tuesday, a crowd gathered outside to greet OPD Sergeant Ron Malone as he left the hospital following a 17-day stay.
Sergeant Malone was injured on August 26 when a driver fled through a crash scene, fatally struck a pedestrian, and intentionally crashed into his patrol car. According to OPD, the collision with Sergeant Malone’s patrol car occurred at speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour.
The pedestrian, identified as 26-year-old James Thompson, Jr., was transported to a local hospital, where he sadly died from his injuries. The driver involved in the crash, 44-year-old Kristopher Kent Winningham, also sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at a local hospital.
After the crash, Sergeant Malone was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. Two days later, he was discharged from the Intensive Care Unit, and he remained hospitalized for further treatment until his release on Tuesday.
While Sergeant Malone was recovering at the hospital, a local business owner crafted a special wooden flag to express his gratitude for the sergeant’s service to the local community, and to extend warm wishes for a speedy recovery.
The wooden flag was delivered to Sergeant Malone in the hospital, and he loves it.
In a social media post on Tuesday, OPD stated that Sergeant Malone’s journey to recovery continues now that he is out of the hospital, and his strength throughout this challenging ordeal is “truly remarkable.”
“Sgt. Malone, we’re here for you, to support you every step of the way as you continue on the road to recovery,” added OPD.
The Ocala Police Department concluded the social media post by stating, “We wholeheartedly thank everyone for their thoughts and concerns for our officer and kindly ask that you continue to keep him and his family in your prayers during this challenging time.”