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PELHAM MANOR, N.Y. Doctors at Jacobi Medical Center awoke Officer Michael Tillistrand from his medically induced coma Thursday, according to Pelham Manor police chief Alfred Mosiello.
Mosiello did not know the exact time that doctors awoke Tillistrand. As of Friday morning, Tillistrand remained sedated and had not regained consciousness. But Mosiello said the signs were optimistic. Hes definitely improving, Mosiello said. Hes not getting worse.
Mosiello said doctors did not give him any prognosis as to Tillistrands condition. The chief spent approximately an hour with Tillistrand at the hospital on Thursday and was able to see him with his own eyes. He looks a lot better than he looked, Mosiello said.
Mosiello also confirmed that Jillian Ruggiero, the 27-year-old daughter of Pelham Manor fire chief Joseph Ruggiero, was the driver of the car that hit Tillistrand on Tuesday evening. No charges have been filed against the woman, and Mosiello said it will take time for the Pelham Manor Police Department to get a report from Westchester County police and to conduct its own investigation. Joseph Ruggiero was not available for comment Friday morning.
Doctors at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx performed an emergency craniotomy on Officer Michael Tillistrand on Tuesday night to relieve the pressure in his brain, according to Mosiello. The chief said Wednesday it is possible that Tillistrand suffered other injuries from the accident but that doctors were mainly concerned about his head injury.
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