Auburn officer learning to walk again after being hit by allegedly high driver

AUBURN, Mass. — After several days in the hospital, Auburn Police Officer Luis Santos is home recovering from what could have been far more serious injuries.

In an interview with FOX25, the father of four young children said he knew he was lucky to be alive when he woke up in the hospital.

“I woke up, and I could hear people talking. I realized that and counted my blessings right away. Someone was looking after me,” he said.

Santos was hit by a car over the weekend, and investigators said they believe it was intentional.

“It was in the blink of an eye, I saw the car coming at me, it had more than enough space and time to not hit me, but it continued,” Santos said. “That's when I let go of those stop sticks, and at attempted to at least deflect the blow, that's when I blacked out.”

Prosecutors say 47-year-old Matthew Ostrander broke into a home in Millbury, then led police on a chase included the crash into Santos.

“Luckily, my shoulders up, I ended up in the snowbank. It kind of cushioned the blow to my head,” Santos said.

Now Santos is learning how to walk again.

“A lot of soft tissue injuries. The concussion and the hematoma ended up in the back, where I landed,” he said.

Santos, a 15 year veteran of the force, says he is so lucky to be alive - especially after the department lost one of their own, Ron Tarantino Jr., last year.

“When Ron passed away, it was definitely really hard. It's still hard. I believe that as a police department, as friends and colleagues that work together every day, and as a community, it brought us together,” he said.

Santos was released from the hospital Thursday, but still says he has a long road to recovery.

Donations can be made to the Officer Santos and Family Assistance Fund, c/o Savers Bank, 38 Auburn St.
Auburn, MA 01501.

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