Undersheriff returns home for recovery after serious accident on Saturday
HOLLEY – Orleans County Undersheriff Mike Mele has returned to his home in Holley after surgeries on a “severely broken leg,” said Sheriff Chris Bourke.
Mele was injured Saturday when he swerved to avoid a head-on collision on Route 31 near Tuthill Road. Another driver crossed into Mele’s lane due to slick roads.
Mele took a hard right turn to avoid an accident with that vehicle. His Chevy Tahoe left the road and crashed into a house.
Mele broke his right leg, cracked three ribs, suffered lacerations on his head and a brain bleed. Doctors at Strong Memorial Hospital put pins, screws and plates in Mele’s right leg, Bourke told local elected officials on a conference call Tuesday evening.
“Mike is looking at quite a long time to recover,” Bourke said. “He’s in a lot of pain.”
The Sheriff’s Office has received encouraging notes and phone calls from other sheriffs and undersheriffs around the state, as well as from the local community, Bourke said.
A group of pastors stopped outside Mele’s house on Tuesday to pray for his recovery.
“We appreciate all the thoughts,” Bourke said.
