A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy who lost part of his leg in a hit-in-run crash earlier this month is fighting to return to duty.
Deputy Garrett Rifkin was on his way to work on Aug. 3 when he was involved in the wreck in which the other driver sped off, according to KABC-TV.
"I remember looking around. I remember seeing this guy get out of his car, he looked at me, he got back in his car and took off," Rifkin told the news station.
Rifkin's leg was amputated below the knee following the crash.
He underwent a total of six surgeries and is now at the California Rehabilitation Institute learning to walk again. Along with encouragement and support from his friends, family and co-workers, he also is getting calls from other law enforcement officers who have gone through the same thing.
"For the most part they are all back to full duty. It's given me a lot of hope," he said. "That's what pushed me - seeing these guys did it I can do it too."
<[> Since he was on his way to work and not yet on duty that day there have been some issues with workers compensation. To help, a friend set up a GoFundMe page to assist with medical bills.Rifkin is expected to be out of the rehabilitation hospital in two weeks and will then return home to continue rehab in hopes to get back on duty in six to eight months.
