By Joanna Putman
Police1
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — A Pine Bluff Police Department officer who was severely injured in a head-on collision with a suspected drunk driver is thanking her family and coworkersfor enabling a quicker-than-expected recovery, KATV reported.
“I could’ve died that night, I could’ve been paralyzed, I could still be in the hospital,” Officer Tiffany Wood said.
Wood was responding to a disturbance call at a bar Oct. 29 when a vehicle suddenly drove straight towards her in her lane. She told KATV she had no time to react and could not move out of the car’s way.
Wood suffered broken ribs, vertebrae and a broken femur, as well as a knee and head injury. She was treated in the ICU.
Wood returned home for further recovery after one week and told KATV she is recovering faster than she expected.
“When you stay positive, your healing progresses quicker; when you stay positive, your mindset keeps you going, it keeps you strong,” Wood said. “It gives you a reason to keep moving forward so that you don’t quit on yourself.”
Wood told KATV that her positivity came from the help and encouragement of her family and colleagues at the department.
Last week, her colleagues at the department visited her at home to surprise her 7-year-old son with birthday gifts, according to the report. A police department administrator said they would be back again with Christmas gifts in December.
“It is very heartwarming, I’m very appreciative of it, I couldn’t thank them enough,” she said.
Wood says she could be back at work for the department on light duty in about six weeks. She may be able to return as a patrol officer after eight months.