Round Rock officer critically injured in hit-and-run transferred to rehab facility, family seeks aid

As a Round Rock police officer who was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic around a fatal crash was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital on March 12, officials said the police department is asking for the public's help in assisting his family with financial stresses.

Officer Charles Whites, an 18-year veteran with the Round Rock Police Department, was hit by a vehicle while directing traffic on Feb. 25 along Interstate 35 after a 25-year-old man was found dead along the road. Officials said they have no description of the car that hit the 25-year-old identified as Amir Azad.

The driver that allegedly struck Whites was arrested and charged with intoxication assault. Whites suffered from a critical head injury.

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While his family, friends and co-workers are optimistic that he will recover, it will be a slow process, the department said. Whites will undergo rehabilitation in Austin with plans to move to Houston as he continues to improve.

This means that his family will have to relocate as well.

"In a time like this, the Round Rock Police Officers Association would like to ensure Officer Whites’ family does not have the additional financial stresses his injuries will create," the department said.

Whites' close friend of nearly 20 years, Officer Lloyd Bird, said White has a long road ahead of him.

"Charles and his family have a long, long road of recovery. If anybody from our community and our surrounding communities want to help, we have a variety of ways that they can donate to help Chares' family, to support them as they have to relocate and be near him and help and support him during his recovery," he said.

Here's how you can donate to the family:

• Click here
• PayPal account holders can send money via email to admin@roundrockpolicefoundation.org with the memo "Charles Whites and his Family."
• Checks with the memo "The Benefit of Charles Whites and his family" can be made payable to the Round Rock Police Foundation.
• Donation may be dropped off at the police department located at 2701 North Mays in Round Rock or mailed to Round Rock Police Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 424, Round Rock, TX 78680