KENNESAW — Fishing is one of the things Cobb police Sgt. Mike Crider said he misses the most since he was injured on-duty six weeks ago in a head-on vehicle collision.

Forced to sit when he’s not on crutches because of a broken hip socket, Crider received a standing ovation at a benefit in his honor on Sunday when he hobbled into a packed Fuddruckers restaurant near Town Center at Cobb mall.

Cheers and applause rang out from fellow police officers and firefighters in metro Atlanta, as well as restaurant patrons and employees. Twenty percent of the restaurant’s net sales on Sunday will be donated to the nonprofit NobleHeroes Foundation Inc. to benefit Crider. A donation box was also set up for direct contributions to Crider.

Crider, 44, became teary-eyed while speaking to journalists about his ordeal. He said it was “heart-warming” to see so many people show their support by attending the event. In between reading and watching TV while recuperating at home, Crider said he has thought about how fortunate he himself is to be there for the event.

“I think six inches this way, six inches that way, whatever, they could of have had to amputate the leg. I could have died,” said Crider, a 16-year police veteran and grandfather.

“I feel real lucky to have survived and walked away. The airbag and seat belt did their job. I’m glad I was able to get on the brakes as much as I was. I hate to think what it would have been like had I not been able to apply the breaks at all.”

Just before the collision at about 10:50 a.m. June 19, authorities reported that Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop Christopher Richards, 33, of Canton for possible impaired driving. When he failed to stop, deputies pursued Richards in a high-speed chase on Interstate 575.

Authorities said Richards fled into Cobb County and crossed a grass median at Barrett Parkway while traveling south in the northbound lanes. Crider was involved in Cobb police’s pursuit of Richards when a 2007 Honda Civic driven by Richards smashed into his police cruiser, police said. Both men were transported to hospitals in Atlanta.

Richards was treated and later charged by Cobb police with reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, fleeing and attempting to elude, serious injury by vehicle, possession of marijuana and four counts of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.

He remains in Cobb County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He also faces charges in Cherokee County.

Active warrants are out for Richards for alleged obstruction of an officer, speeding, DUI, fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, and improper passing, said Lt. Howard Baker of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office.

Crider broke his hip socket in three places, and had two plates and eight screws inserted in his left leg during surgery. He said his recovery has been going well, except for the recent discovery of nerve damage below his knee that physicians will need to check out.

Upon first hearing news of the crash, Sgt. Greg Hawley, who worked as Crider’s partner for six months, said it was a relief to learn that his most severe injury was limited to his leg.

“I was scared at first that my partner had been hurt real bad,” Hawley said. “Being a head-on collision, I didn’t know if he was going to make it or not. Then relief to find out that it was just an issue with his leg.”

The NobleHeroes Foundation has assisted six Georgia public safety officials, who have been injured in the line of duty, by raising funds since it was founded three years ago, said its president Jason Muenzer. He said he felt compelled to reach out to Crider when he learned of his incident.

“After learning that he was going to be out for six months and had all of these surgeries, we just felt like we had to do something,” Muenzer said.

Claudia Hart and Sarah Hilliard, members of Calvary Chapel Cobb in Marietta, said they too felt the need to support Crider after their church pastor encouraged them and other members to attend the benefit.

“We love our policemen,” Hilliard said.