Friend Recalls Rushing To Rescue McLoud Officer Injured In Crash

A McLoud police officer remains in a medically induced coma Wednesday night following a crash involving his patrol car and a garbage truck. Donations are now pouring in to help the officer and his family.

The GoFundMe account hopes to raise $10,000 for Alan Smith and his family. That money will go toward medical bills and making sure his 5-year-old son remembers this as one of the best Christmases.

The crash between Smith and a garbage truck on Tuesday left the area blocked off for several hours while emergency crews worked to free him and clear the road. It took 45 minutes to cut Smith from his wrecked car.

Wes Elliott, a reserve sheriff's deputy, rushed to the scene minutes after learning of his friend's horrific crash.

“You're conscious that it's someone that you have a relationship with; that you know. Yet you know to make sure he survives, your training kicks in,” said Elliot.

Smith has served with the McLoud Police Department for the past three years.

12/17/2014 Related Story: ‘GoFundMe' Account Set Up For McLoud Officer Injured In Crash

Elliott describes Smith as, not only a dedicated family man, but also a man dedicated to serving and protecting his community. That is why Elliott and other law enforcement brothers are calling on the community for help, giving back to a man who puts his life on the line for them every day.

“We've set up a fund, obviously with GoFundMe, to make sure that we try to help him in the long term. There's going to be a lot of expences and he's going to need that,” said Elliot.

They are also working to make sure Christmas isn't over shadowed this year for his son.

“We just don't want him to remember this as the Christmas ‘that my daddy was in the hospital',” said Elliot

Elliott knows Smith will have a long road to recovery, but hopes the financial support from the community will help to ease the journey for his family.

Investigators tell us they are still working to figure out what caused the crash. The garbage man suffered only minor injuries.

Learn more about how you can make a donation to Officer Smith and his family.