Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Suffolk County Police Officer Brendon Gallagher is fighting for his life in a medically induced coma after a high-speed crash Sunday night on the Long Island Expressway near Exit 55 in Brentwood, according to police. Gallagher was attempting to stop a speeding Ford Mustang driven by Cody Fisher, who was traveling at 95-100 mph on the highway.
“There is a Suffolk County Police car, Ford Explorer, directly on his bumper clearly trying to get him to pull over. They were both at a very, very high rate of speed. They must’ve been attempting to evade by switching lanes,” a witness told CBS News. Seconds later, the vehicles collided during the pursuit. Gallagher’s police vehicle struck a tree before overturning, and he was trapped inside the wreckage.
“The damage was so significant, it took emergency officers over a half an hour to extricate him from the vehicle,” said Robert Waring, Suffolk County’s acting police commissioner. First responders airlifted Gallagher to Stony Brook University Hospital after the extraction. Dr. James Vosswinkel from Stony Brook University Hospital said Gallagher lost significant blood and described the rescue efforts: “We had our MedCAT police officers literally climbing in this tangled mess, controlling hemorrhage to try to prolong his life.” Doctors said the next 48 hours are critical for Gallagher, who is lucky to be alive.
Fisher was pulled from his wrecked Mustang by an off-duty Nassau County officer who was heading to work, according to police. Prosecutors charged Fisher with driving under the influence of drugs and assault. He admitted to smoking marijuana and has a prior road rage conviction along with four license suspensions, prosecutors said.
This marks the second life-threatening incident for Gallagher in just over two years. In late 2022, he and Officer Raymond Stock were stabbed while responding to a domestic dispute in Medford. Stock suffered stab wounds to the neck, chest and groin, while Gallagher was stabbed in the ribs. Officials said Gallagher’s bulletproof vest protected his heart. Stock’s vocal cords were paralyzed from his injuries, and Gallagher, who was able to walk, wheeled Stock out of Stony Brook University Hospital after treatment. A 56-year-old man was shot and killed by a responding officer during that incident, which the department ruled justified. Despite being offered a desk job after the stabbing, Gallagher chose to return to active duty.
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred near Exit 55 on the Long Island Expressway in Brentwood, causing traffic to come to a complete standstill as emergency crews responded. This section of the LIE has recorded 126 incidents in traffic databases, with recent activity including various roadwork and construction projects.
Gallagher serves on the Suffolk County Police Street Takeover Task Force, which was established to combat illegal street racing plaguing Long Island communities. “This is an officer that pulled two other individuals earlier in the week over for racing, Mercedes that were doing over 130 miles an hour on the expressway. Street racing has to stop,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Fisher faces charges of driving under the influence of drugs and assault in connection with the crash. His criminal history includes a prior road rage conviction and four license suspensions, highlighting concerns about repeat offenders. “We need laws that act as a deterrent. Ninety-five to a hundred miles an hour and we can’t hold you on bail unless you almost kill one of us,” said Lou Civello with the Suffolk Police PBA, expressing frustration over bail restrictions for high-speed driving cases.
Broader Impact
Gallagher, who has three years with Suffolk County Police and has received eight awards for exemplary work, represents the dangerous reality facing officers tasked with stopping illegal street racing. The incident underscores the escalating risks officers face when pursuing vehicles traveling at extreme speeds on Long Island highways.