Blood Drive honors injured NYS Trooper

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WKBW) – New York State Troopers held a blood drive in support of Sgt. Sam Mattina. Last month, Mattina was seriously injured after being hit by a car while riding his patrol motorcycle.

“He received numerous blood transfusions. He has also undergone numerous surgeries,” said Heather Harper of Connect Life.

Harper tells 7 News Mattina received many blood donations during an extended hospital stay following the crash in the town of Porter. That situation inspired his State Trooper family to pay for the blood that saved their colleague’s life.

“We’re doing a blood drive for Sam Mattina,” said Sgt. said Joesph Krywalski. “Anything that can give something back. (The community) has been great to Sam, so we want to help the community.”

Connect Life hosted the blood drive at the Lockport State Trooper station. Donors came from everywhere, from Mattina’s colleagues to community members.

In total, more than 60 people donated blood. In addition, Sgt. Mattina herself showed up.

Sergeant Mattina made a surprise appearance at the blood drive on Sunday afternoon.

Mattina sits in a wheelchair, with a boot on his right leg, but his presence alone radiates positivity at the station.

“It’s great to have him around, he has a smile on his face every day, even when he’s going through all this. You see him, and he lights up, and he lights you up,” Krywalski said. “To go through something like that and be able to recover in the time he has been great.

Anyone who Sgt. Mattina’s business and donating blood can be done there yourself connectlife.org.