The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) is sponsoring a raffle for an officer who was critically injured in a car accident over spring break, union officials announced this week.

Another vehicle broadsided the car of Patrol Officer Anthony Carvello in Belmont as he left a detail on April 4.

The accident was so severe that, although Carvello had his seatbelt on, he smashed into the passenger side door during the impact. He has no memory of the accident.

Carvello suffered massive head injuries. After a two-week stay, the intensive care unit of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital recently discharged Carvello to the Youville Rehabilitation Hospital in Cambridge, where he continues to recuperate.

Doctors expect he will require several months of rehabilitation.

"Overall, Anthony is doing miraculous," said Officer Wilmon D. Chipman, president of the police union.

HUPD hopes the money raised in the raffle will help Carvello's wife and two young children, Anthony Jr., 9, and Madison, 2.

All HUPD officers will carry the raffle tickets until the May 8 deadline.

"They're selling really fast," Chipman commented.

The winners of the six cash prizes, including the top prize of $2,500, will be announced at a drawing May 11. Tickets cost $10 apiece.

A fund to benefit Carvello's family has also been established, Chipman said.

Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 1444, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Carvello grew up in East Cambridge and is well known in the community.

When Chipman went to the post office to open the fund's box, the staff there, who remembered Carvello, requested that Chipman bring them raffle tickets.

Many HUPD officers cited Carvello as a model officer. He joined HUPD last spring after several years working at the Middlesex County House of Correction and working part-time for HUPD as a dispatcher for two years.

"He'd been wanting to join us for a long time, and he was so excited," Chipman recalled.

Carvello arrested Andre K. Stuckey, Jr., the Yard Burglar, last fall, ending HUPD's month-long search.

Any questions concerning the raffle or benefit fund may be directed to Chipman, Officer Chris Ahern or Sgt. Robert Kotowski at 495-1215.