Gary councilman continues recovery

Brown undergoing physical, speech therapy after injuries suffered in January car crash

Mike Brown’s chair at Gary Common Council meetings has been empty since a car crash in late January, but the council president and former Lake County clerk hopes to return soon.

On Jan. 27, Brown, D-at large, suffered a brain injury, along with back and neck injuries in the Hammond crash. He has been recovering at home and undergoing physical and speech therapy, he said.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support I have been getting. I am getting stronger each day,” Brown said.

Brown was on the job for the Lake County clerk’s office when the crash occurred at the intersection of Russell Street and Hohman Avenue. He was riding in a car driven by former Hammond City Councilman Anthony Higgs, D-3rd, when another motorist failed to obey a red light and crashed into the rear passenger side of the car.

Lake County Clerk Lorenzo Arredondo also was in the vehicle, which was in Hammond near the Lake County satellite office. Higgs was also injured in the crash, but has since returned to work. Brown was seated in the rear passenger seat. He said the impact tossed him across the vehicle and he hit his head on the driver’s side window.

The city councilman said he has not been able to work at all, including his job in the clerk’s office, since the crash. He said the county has been great about making sure he has what he needs.

“I am extremely blessed and grateful for my family and friends,” Brown said.

Brown said he is eager to get back to work as soon as his doctors say it is OK.

“I am so excited for when I will be able to get back to service,” Brown said. In the meantime, he said the current council has been doing a good job. He lauded new Councilman William Godwin, D-1st, who was tapped to serve as interim president in Brown’s absence.

“I believe his leadership is fine. I think he’s done a great job,” Brown said.

Godwin said the council supports Brown and is awaiting his return when he is cleared by his doctors.

“We pray for his speedy recovery and return. We’re blessed to have a strong city council to fill in the gaps, and I know that his many decades of dedicated public service are respected by all in this time of recovery,” Godwin said.