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'Get well' run Sunday for SEPTA officer struck by hit-and-run driver while running

The runner who was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver in Holmesburg a week ago was a SEPTA Transit police officer for whom runners plan a four-mile "get well" outing Sunday.

SEPTA Transit Police Officer Gary Miller was running on a Holmesburg street about 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2016, when he was struck from behind by a hit-and-run driver. He is in serious condition at Aria Health’s Torresdale hospital.
SEPTA Transit Police Officer Gary Miller was running on a Holmesburg street about 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2016, when he was struck from behind by a hit-and-run driver. He is in serious condition at Aria Health’s Torresdale hospital.Read moreVia GoFundMe page/Courtesty of SEPTA

The runner who was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver in Holmesburg a week ago was a SEPTA Transit police officer for whom runners plan a four-mile "get well" outing Sunday.

Officer Gary Miller, 44, was running on Rowland Avenue, near Chippendale Street, about 3 p.m. last Sunday when a dark-colored sedan struck him from behind, throwing him up against the windshield before he landed on the road.

SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel III said Saturday that Miller, who has been a transit officer for about 13 years, was in serious condition in the intensive-care unit at the Aria Health-Torresdale Campus.

Miller has undergone multiple surgeries over the last week, Nestel said, citing a variety of injuries, including to his left leg and collarbone, as well as a concussion.

"He was badly injured," the chief said.

Calling Miller "a real physical-fitness buff," Nestel said the officer was running last Sunday with his wife, as they usually did.

"He does a little more than she does," Nestel said. On lap four, when Miller was running by himself, he was hit by the car, Nestel said.

Starting at the scene of the accident, the Philadelphia runners group RUN215 will host a pop-up run beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday to wish Miller well, Nestel said. The run will conclude at Aria Health-Torresdale.

Nestel said he would meet the group at the start and then drive and meet them at the finish.

"I'm not running," he said. "This body isn't made for running."

SEPTA officers in vehicles will accompany the runners to make sure they're safe along the way, Nestel said.

At the hospital, he plans to thank the runners, and will make sure Miller or his family receive cards and other items from well-wishers.

A bulletin posted on RUN215's website Friday said the group was gathering cards and flowers to take to Miller to lift his spirits. Runners can bring cards to the starting line Sunday or drop them off at any Philadelphia Runner stores until noon Sunday. Those locations can be found at www.philadelphiarunner.com.

Nestel said he was humbled by RUN215's kindness. Miller is not part of the group, Nestel said.

"Peeps who don't even know our officer are doing a Get Well Run simply because he's a fellow runner!" Nestel tweeted Saturday.

Jon Lyons, founder of RUN215, said Saturday that he didn't know Miller but was affected by what happened to him.

"I think it would be an excellent example of community to show up and let Officer Miller know we wish him the best, and are here for him when he's well enough to start running again," Lyons said.

Miller, a father of two adult children, is assigned to the district at the Frankford Transportation Center and patrolled part of the Market-Frankford Line, Nestel said.

Miller was heavily medicated and in pain when he visited him early last week, Nestel said.

"He's concerned about whether he's going to come back to duty, whether he can run again," the chief said.

Another SEPTA Transit police officer, Solomon Edwards, who is the recording secretary for the Fraternal Order of Transit Police, on Friday set up a GoFundMe page for Miller at www.gofundme.com/26kwhxpn.

Nestel said the money raised would be deposited into Miller's personal account at the Police and Fire Federal Credit Union. He said the transit police union set up the donation site to raise money for expenses Miller is expected to need for his rehabilitation and physical therapy.

As of late Saturday afternoon, donations exceeded $10,000.

Philadelphia police have said the motorist who struck Miller was a white man, 20 to 30 years old, with dark hair and wearing a blue shirt. He was driving a dark-colored Saturn sedan, police said.

After the accident, the driver continued south on Rowland Avenue before turning east on Oakmont Street. Surveillance video showed the car with a shattered windshield, front-end damage, a rear spoiler, and a driver's-side front tire that is either missing a hubcap or is a spare "donut" tire, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or the Accident Investigation District at 215-685-3180.

shawj@phillynews.com

215-854-2592 @julieshawphilly