HONOLULU -- Eight months ago, Honolulu Police Department Officer Jeffrey Keahi Omai made headlines when a suspect struck him with a stolen van. On Wednesday, Omai finally met the woman who saved his life.

Liane Beckwith was overwhelmed by the awards and commendations showered on her at Wednesday's ceremony at police headquarters.

Beckwith is a registered nurse and paramedic instructor. She was in her car on Dec. 2. A wrong turn put her at the stoplight at Dillingham Boulevard when she saw a van strike Omai in the parking lot of Honolulu Community College.

"He was lying in a pool of blood and he wasn't breathing, so I stabilized his neck. He had blood clots in his mouth. I got those out of his mouth and got him breathing again," Beckwith said.

Omai works with HPD's Crime Reduction Unit. He said he doesn't remember much of that night.

Officers had cornered theft suspect Daniel Vesper. However, Vesper apparently was not going to stop.

"He continued, veered toward me and hit me on my hip. And I guess my feet got stuck under the tires. He actually pushed me about 20-30 feet away and then he ran over me again," Omai said.

Vesper was arrested after an intense two-day manhunt.

Omai spent the last eight months recovering from serious injuries, including a fractured skull.

"Because she was there, basically, she saved his life. I can't say enough about what she did," HPD Maj. Susan Ballard said.

"It's really an honor to meet her and very thankful she took the time to come over and help me," Omai said.

"I just wanted him to get well and to get better, because you know, they put their lives on the line for us all the time," Beckwith said.