MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - A Milwaukee police officer has been taken off the critical list, 10 days after he was thrown in the air by a hit by run vehicle.

Frank Vrtochnick has been upgraded to serious condition at a hospital.

A police spokeswoman said the 37-year-old Vrtochnick still has a long road of healing ahead but, “The many surgeries he has endured have gone well.”

Police said 19-year-old Juan Alvarado of Milwaukee was driving in the wrong lane on Christmas Day when his car jumped a curb and hit Vrtochnick, who was standing outside his squad car at the time.

The officer was thrown in the air, and landed up to 40 feet away.

Alvarado was arrested three days later in Chicago. Officials said he was trying to catch a bus to Mexico.

He’s due back in court 2 weeks from Wednesday on two felony charges of reckless endangerment and reckless injury.