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Community uplifts Wakulla County deputy

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Posted at 10:38 PM, May 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-27 13:29:25-04

WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. — Support is pouring in for a Wakulla County deputy involved in a crash that could have ended his life.

"Anyone that's ever met knows that I always say I'm blessed and highly favored," Wakulla County Deputy Jonathan Kendrick told WTXL's Jada Williams.

And in the recent months, those words have meant even more to Deputy Kendrick.

"When I think back on it, I'm so grateful that he's alive," said Lyndsey Kendrick, Deptuty Kendrick's wife.

On April 10, a car crashed into Deputy Kendrick's patrol truck.

"It was like slow motion when the vehicle hit me. I could see the headlights and everything got slow," said Deputy Kendrick.

He fractured his hangman's vertebrae, broke his left wrist in 3 places, and busted his knee. Immediately following that accident, Deputy Kendrick saw just what he means to his community.

"There were people from all different walks of life coming to check on him," said his wife.

,Just checking on him wasn't enough.

"Deputy Sheriff's don't make a lot of money, so its good that we can work with neighboring sheriff's when a tragedy involves one of our own," said Sheriff AJ Smith.

AJ Smith is the Sheriff of Franklin County, which is Deputy Kendrick's hometown.

"He's a very instrumental part of my recovery," said Deputy Kendrick

He, along with other members of the Florida Sheriff's Association donated a thousand dollars to Kendrick's recovery. And along with that money, others have continued to show their love and support.

"It makes my day when I receive a patch or a challenge coin because I can't get out there and get em right now, but I sure want to," said Deputy Kendrick

Through what he calls blessings and the love from his community, that might be sooner than anyone could have expected.

Deputy Kendrick's brace is expected to come off June 11. After that, the doctors will check out his knee and he'll have to go to physical therapy.

If you'd like you can send your support in form of a card or a personal letter.

Once you do, they can be mailed to the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office at 15 Oak St, Crawfordville, FL 32327.