Police officer hit by suspected drunk driver FaceTimes chief from hospital to say 'she will be back'

A Texas police officer is currently in recovery after she was struck by a suspected drunk driver Saturday night while responding to an incident on a highway.

San Marcos police officer Claudia Cormier arrived minutes after a 9:39 p.m. call about a hazardous item on the northbound roadway on Interstate Highway 35. Not long after her arrival, police received more calls: Cormier, a police officer for three years, had been struck by a person driving a 2000 Ford Expedition.

First responders rushed Cormier, who sustained severe life-threatening injuries, to Seton-Hays Hospital in Kyle, where she underwent emergency surgery, according to the San Marcos Police Department.

In their statement issued on Sunday, the department asked for prayers for "Officer Cormier's recovery and for her family in their time of need."

By Monday evening, Chief Chase Stapp shared an encouraging update, announcing that Cormier had FaceTimed him to assure him that she “will be back” on the job.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers arrested the driver of the vehicle, 58-year-old Neil Sheehan. He was charged with intoxication assault on a public servant (a second-degree felony), and failure to slow causing serious bodily harm. A warrant has been obtained for a toxicology report.

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