PINE BLUFF, Ark. — After she was hit head-on by a suspected drunk driver, some call it a miracle that Officer Tiffany Wood is alive. Some may even call it a blessing— but she explained that it's truly an honor.
"Most people don't get sent home out of ICU, [I] somehow managed to do that," Officer Tiffany Wood with Pine Bluff Police Department said.
According to reports, Officer Wood was responding to a call on University at around 5:00 a.m. on October 29 when her patrol car was hit.
"I had no time to react I had no time to divert the vehicle in a different direction. and like, there was nothing so it was quick and sudden, and everybody's like, stay safe, be careful and I'm like, I will as best as I can I can't control everybody's actions." Wood described.
She explained that she suffered a spinal injury, broken ribs, broken femurs, and a pretty bad concussion. Despite all of that, doctors have been amazed at how well she is recovering.
"I just had my follow-up appointment on my leg they said that my legs already starting to show signs of healing. They say that typically, they don't see it that quickly and so I guess I'm stronger physically than I thought I was and my body is healthier than I thought it was and so that's a blessing," She said.
Although the odds were stacked against her that morning, Wood said she refused to let that be the end of her story as she knew that wouldn't be fair to her son.
"My supervisor got there pretty quickly right behind me, she got in the vehicle, she was holding my hands and I immediately started naming off everywhere that I had pain. I did mention to her that I didn't want to die because of my baby," Wood said.
Tiffany's mother, Tammy Wood, said receiving the call from her daughter's sergeant that night was the worst news she's ever gotten.
"I prayed again and just asked please keep my baby alive and so from that point on, I was able to lay eyes on her it wasn't as bad. But as a mom you know you still worry and [are] concerned about your baby," Tammy said.
Tammy said that ever since Tiffany was young, she's known her daughter to be a fighter and knew she wasn't the type to give up.
"Tiffany has always been Miss Independent, always wanted to do for herself and didn't need help and stuff, you know, and being my baby girl, you know, I want to always help her but she let me know she didn't need it and which, has really come into play in all of this because if she was not a fighter, if she was not independent, she would not be sitting here today as strong and overcoming every injury that she has," Tammy described.
Tiffany said she has been taking her recovery process one day at a time and is overwhelmed with all the support and love she has received.
"As a little girl, you know everybody wants to be famous and popular and stuff and I'm glad that I'm in a position where it's an honor being a patrol officer. Everyone showing their support has been amazing," Wood said.
According to the Pine Bluff Police Department, anyone wishing to donate to Officer Wood and her family can donate to the Pine Bluff Police Department Benevolent Fund/ Officer Wood Donations Account at Simmons First National Bank.
You can reach out to Roshawantae at (870) 541-1162 or Kelly at (870) 541-1033 at Simmons Bank for account information.
We have updated this article to clarify that the other driver was suspected of drunk driving, but no charges have been announced at this time.