Tampa policewoman critical after crash

Family, friends and colleagues are keeping vigil over a police officer critically injured in a wreck while on vacation in Cozumel, Mexico.

Andrea Law, 36, was flown to Tampa International Airport on Thursday and taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she is in intensive care.

Law has been a Tampa Police Department school resource officer at Stewart Middle School since October. Before that, she worked in patrol.

Police Chief Jane Castor said Law is in a medically induced coma. Her injuries include a lacerated liver.

"It's just a matter of time to see if she recovers from those injuries," Castor said, adding that doctors said Law regained consciousness coming out of surgery.

"Police officers are fighters, and we knew then she was part of this fight, and we knew she'd do all she can to recover," Castor said.

Law's family flew in from Ohio, and Castor and Mayor Pam Iorio went to the hospital.

Law was one of five Carnival Legend cruise passengers injured in the crash Wednesday. A Sarasota County firefighter also was injured, although details were not immediately available.

Law and another person were airlifted to medical facilities in the United States, and the other three remain hospitalized in Cozumel, the cruise line announced.

"The guests were not participating in a ship-sponsored shore excursion at the time but rather were riding in a jeep they had rented independently when it collided with another vehicle," according to the written statement.

Law joined the police department in 2007. In her latest evaluation, she met or exceeded expectations in every category.

Law previously spent about two years as a St. Petersburg police officer.

"She's a very, very well-respected officer," Castor said.

Law has made a strong impression at Stewart Middle, Assistant Principal Alex Samaras said.

She has helped teach classes on school and public safety. Law also volunteers in the Ladies of Elegance program for at-risk female students and mentors.

"We are pulling for her," Samaras said.