Injured Deputy

A Monroe County Sheriff's deputy that was hit by a car while manning a checkpoint continues to recover.

A monroe county sheriff's deputy that was hit by a car while manning a checkpoint continues to recover.

Deputy dylan pickle died in the accident and deputy zack wilbanks was seriously injured.

Wcbi's alile martin tells us how wilbanks relies on hard work, faith and support from the community to persevere.

During a visit to the sheriff's department thursday morning, deputy zack wilbanks spent some time watching as corrections officers received their oc spray certification.

They have to be pepper sprayed, and deputy wilbanks was there to encourage them as they fought through the ordeal.

Nats he also read several letters from a stack of mail received from well wishers around the world.

More than four weeks after the tragic accident july 26th, deputy wilbanks is making progress, one day at a time.

"i quit taking pain medication, i push it at physical therapy, best i can, i do exercises on my own at my house.

My leg, i believe it's ahead of schedule, my head, still a lot of unknown, with hearing loss and trauma."

Deputy wilbanks suffered a broken leg, skull fracture, along with other injuries.

He also has d hearing loss in his left ear.

Still, wilbanks managed to attend the funeral of his friend, and co worker deputy dylan pickle, six days after the accident.

Wilbanks has also attended a crossfit workout in honor of deputy pickle and himself.

He believes it's good therapy for him to get out and see friends, co workers and others who have prayed for his recovery.

"i think it helps with the healing, in dylan's case, and i mean, just to see zack back and seeing him around is encouraging in itself, part of the healing process."

Nats in fact, after his visit to the sheriff's department, monroe county sheriff kevin crook drove deputy wilbanks to a rotary club meeting in amory, where people expressed their appreciation and encouraged the young law officer.

Deputy wilbanks says his strong christian faith, memories of his friend deputy pickle, and support from the community, friends and family inspire him to persevere.

"my wife, she's done things i never imagined she could do, she's been great, a story i tell, is when i finally got crutches, she'd be at back of the house, hear my crutches start moving, she would come running, worried about me after first night home, she's like an angel, beside that i'm really impressed to see our department pulling through this."

Standup close the community is also showing its support through fundraisers.

A car show is set for saturday morning, benefitting the pickle and wilbanks families.

It takes place in the parking lot behind "the coffee pot."

In amory, allie martin, wcbi news wilbanks could be cleared to return to light duty early next year.

Stinger