Virginia Beach, Va. (WTKR) - A drunk driver changed everything for Virginia Beach Police Officer Ted Marriner.
In the early morning hours of the 4th of July 2005, Marriner had just conducted a traffic stop on Oceana Boulevard.
Virginia Beach Police Officer Ted Marriner (Courtesy Ted Marriner)
As he returned to his car to run the license and registration, a drunk driver plowed into the back of his stopped police cruiser.
He has very few solid memories about what happened after that.
"I have flash memories of seeing the car and realizing something was wrong , of seeing myself laying in the road and realizing I need to get out of the road and an uncontrollable feeling that they bad guy is going to get away and I need to get him," Marriner told NewsChannel 3's Todd Corillo.
The crash left Marriner with post-concussion syndrome resulting in sleepless nights, difficulty standing, trouble talking, headaches and confusion.
It also cost him his job with the Virginia Beach Police Department when he was unable to recover and was medically retired.
"Some people don’t understand that being a police officer is not a job. It’s what you are and what you do. It changes your entire life and to come to the realization that was gone was not a happy time," Marriner explained.
He's tried everything from medications to physical therapy over the past 9 years, but the relief is only temporary.
Now, something else may give Marriner the relief he's so desperately seeking and a Norfolk organization is Taking Action to give this officer his life back.
It's a story you'll see only on NewsChannel 3 Tuesday at 5p.m.
