FAIRMONT, NC—The police department here welcomed back an officer Monday after nearly a year hiatus following a vehicle crash.
Officer Zackary Hunt returned to the police force Monday evening for his first shift since the crash, according to Fairmont Chief of Police Jon Edwards.
Hunt told The Robesonian that it was "good" to be back on duty.
"We are excited to have him back on patrol and serving the town of Fairmont. To see how he has overcome the injuries he sustained and still have the desire to serve his community is a great testament to him as a person," Edwards said.
His injuries stem from pursuing a speeding vehicle on Jan. 4, in which his vehicle hit a bump in the road near a curve on Leesville Road near Industrial Drive, causing him to slam on his brakes and lose control of the vehicle, Hunt told The Robesonian in January.
The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe he was driving exited the road to the right and struck a tree.
The officer was airlifted the same day to UNC Medical Center, where he underwent surgery that lasted more than 12 hours, during which doctors dealt with possible bleeding on his liver and treated fractures to his pelvis and hip. He was released Jan. 15 after spending about two weeks in the hospital.
Hunt told The Robesonian that he had to adapt to using a wheelchair before he would undergo therapy and learn to walk again.
Complications during recovery extended his three-month long recovery process, he said Tuesday.
"There was a little bit of thoughts about not being able to walk again," Hunt said.
But constant phone calls from Edwards and Capt. Jonathan Evans helped encourage him and remind him that there was still a place for him in the department.
"A lot of praying" and help from his parents also played a role in the officer's healing process, he said.
Hunt extended gratitude to Fairmont residents and everyone who prayed for him and continued to ask about his condition during the recovery process.
"The prayers of the community as they expressed their concern for not only him, but his work family when this accident occurred were tremendous and greatly appreciated by everyone at the Fairmont Police Department," Chief Edwards said.
Hunt also shared words for other officers who are on the road to recovery.
"Don't lose hope. There's always somebody that worse than you are," he said.
Hunt said the crash taught him to "focus on everything and not get tunnel vision" while on the job.
But, perhaps among the greatest of lessons learned is the importance of one's life to others.
"Even if you think you're down, there's a lot of people praying for your success," Hunt said.
Reach Jessica Horne at 910-416-5165 or via email at [email protected]
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