OPD officer injured in crash returns to duty

Tom Lesyna

5:16 PM, May 18, 2018

3:40 PM, Sep 9, 2018

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An Omaha police officer is back patrolling the streets after a crash nearly took his life.

Officer Brian Vanderheiden is back to work after he was involved in a multi-vehicle crash last April.

A distracted driver hit his cruiser while he was parked on the shoulder of I-80 and Q as he provided back up to a K-9 unit.

He says six months ago this day didn't seem possible. "There were times it didn't feel possible but i was told myself to keep fight and keep pushing and i'd get back. keep the positive frame of mind really made a difference I believe."

Officer Vanderheiden has been with the Omaha Police Department for 16 years. He says while he was gone the one thing he missed was the people he works with.