L. Brooks Patterson, from Hospital Bed: 'I'm On the Mend'

At the start of his second week in the rehabilitative unit at McLaren Hopsital in Pontiac, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said Tuesday that physical therapy is going well and that he hopes to return to work soon.

"I just completed my first week of intensive physical therapy and rehabilitation and am pleased to report it went very well," said Patterson in a statement released by his office via email. 

"I’m on the mend and look forward to returning to the office soon.

Patterson has been hospitalized since Aug. 10 when the car he was riding in crashed into another car at an Auburn Hills intersection. at a flashing yellow turn signal, causing the crash.

"I broke a hip, leg, ankle, five ribs and both wrists in the accident and they need some time to heal," Patterson said.

Anthony Prainito, the driver of the Volkswagen Passat that Patterson's Chrysler 300 crashed into at the intersection of Walton and Opdyke, was  in the crash. He pleaded not guilty. As part of his release on bond, Prainito surrendered his driver's license. On Tuesday, Prainito was granted special permission to drive to and from work, according to a report in the Detroit News.

Patterson's car was driven by his longtime driver, James Cram. Neither Cram nor Patterson were wearing seatbelts when the cars crashed; Patterson's seatbelt was . Patterson did not allude to the seatbelts in his prepared statement this week.

Instead, he took time to praise his staff for keeping things running smoothly in the county.

“My staff meets with me daily and they have done an outstanding job handling day-to-day operations. My team remains committed to continuing to implement my enduring goal of making Oakland County among the best places to live, work, play, and raise a family.”

No firm date has been set for Patterson's discharge. 

Patterson, 73, has been the county executive for 18 years. After receiving an influx of flowers at the hospital during the weekend after his crash, Patterson's staff asked that get-well-soon gifts be sent as a donation to , the half-marathon race in Rochester that Patterson founded five years ago.

The donations will help fund Brooksie Way Minigrants, which are awarded to Oakland County organizations that promote health and wellness. They are still being accepted at: The Brooksie Way; P.O. Box 81576; Rochester, MI 48308.