Inmates stay on scene to help deputy after two-car wreck | News
TYLER, TX (KLTV)- Police say the Smith County deputy and two inmates who were injured in a morning wreck have been released from the hospital.
The crash happened just before 6:30 a.m. Monday at the intersection of North Palace and West Gentry.
Witnesses say it wasn't just the wreck, but what they saw after the wreck that really caught their attention.
Sheriff J.B. Smith says the deputy's vehicle is out of service for good, but he's glad the people who were in the vehicle are not.
"We're very fortunate that none of them were hurt seriously. The deputy has stitches in his head; he was treated and released. One of the trustees also had some bruises and abrasions on his head; they're both in good shape, but I've got a feeling they'll be awfully sore tomorrow morning," says Sheriff Smith.
Deputy Joseph Jordan was taking the inmates back to jail after their morning trustee duties of washing clothes.
That's when police say a black pickup traveling in the opposite direction, failed to yield, turned left and hit the jailer's car.
"I was actually in my bed asleep. I heard a sliding sound and then I heard a boom. I came outside and the inmates were trying to help the police officer out of the car," says Patricia Austin.
Austin witnessed the aftermath. She says neither inmates tried to flee, but instead they stayed to help the pinned-in deputy.
"The door was crashed in. I saw them pulling on the door and all of them were bleeding," she says.
Thirty-two-year old Alvin Odom and 33-year old Shannon Wallace were the inmates in the car.
"These are low-risk prisoners. One is in for non-payment of child support and the other one is [in on] a misdemeanor. They did what was right, and believe me I'll give them the maximum good-time credit for what they did," says Sheriff Smith.
Tyler Police say the driver of the truck that hit the deputy's car was ticketed for failure to yield the right-of-way.
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