MoCo Police Officer Who Lost Legs On 'Positive' Road To Recovery

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A Montgomery County police officer who had both legs amputated after authorities said was intentionally struck by a driver on Interstate 270 is on a lengthy but positive road to recovery, he told WTOP in an interview.

Sgt. Patrick Kepp and other officers were attempting to stop a driver on I-270 on Oct. 18 when the driver intentionally moved his Dodge Challenger from the middle lane to the far left lane to strike Kepp, police said.

The crash resulted in doctors amputating both of Kepp's legs. Two months and 10 surgeries later, the 36-year-old police officer was able to wheel himself out of the hospital on Dec. 7, he told WTOP.

• RELATED: MoCo Police Officer' Intentionally' Hit By Driver On I-270: Chief

"It’s just been different," Kepp told WTOP while at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda. According to WTOP, there is no definitive timeframe for when Kepp will permanently leave the hospital.

He continued, "It’s been difficult and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't difficult. It's a journey, and I have to accept every part of it and … roll with it for now."

According to police, 19-year-old Raphael Mayorga was speeding on the interstate — at times reaching speeds of 110 mph — while getting on and off the road, a tactic Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones said Mayorga has used to provoke police officers into chasing him on major county roadways.

Kepp was struck after he got out of his patrol car to deploy stop sticks used to deflate the tires of Mayorga's vehicle.

According to police, Mayorga continued northbound before a second officer successfully deployed stop sticks and brought the car to a stop.

Mayorga, of Frederick, was charged with attempted first-degree murder and other counts in connection to the incident.

Meanwhile, Kepp told WTOP the acknowledgment and support he's received since the incident.

"It took me a while to realize that there are people from around the world that this [incident] has impacted. I’ve had some pretty famous people reach out to me and I still can’t believe it," he told the station.