June 29--PALESTINE -- A 24-year-old Anderson County sheriff's deputy critically injured in a three-vehicle wreck earlier this month was released from a Tyler hospital Wednesday and is entering rehab in Houston, according to reports from family members.
Hunter Lawrence, 24, suffered a skull fracture, broken jaw, cracked pelvis and other injuries in the wreck which occurred around 10:45 p.m. on June 2 on U.S. 287 South, just inside the Palestine city limits, near the intersection of Benbrook Drive.
Lawrence had been recovering from his injuries in the intensive care unit of East Texas Medical Center in Tyler since the wreck.
"He was released from the hospital and is headed to (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, or TIRR) in Houston," Lawrence's uncle Lynn Broughton reported Wednesday, stating that his nephew was doing "fabulous."
"He is walking, talking and aware of everything and he needs no help breathing," Broughton said, stating that the rehabilitation was due to the pelvis injuries.
"We know everyone has been sending prayers this way," he added. "This is a really awesome day for our family."
Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor had previously said Lawrence was operating a Chevrolet Impala squad car and "en route to an emergency call to back up an officer" in the Elkhart area at the time of the wreck.
A pickup truck and a full-sized SUV were the other vehicles involved in the wreck. Lawrence had to be extricated from the squad car.
Lawrence began his employment with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office as a jailer and recently completed the East Texas Police Academy, earning a promotion to deputy within the past year or so.
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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at [email protected]
Copyright 2012 - Palestine Herald-Press, Texas
