Sheriff: Deputy should recover from crash injuries

Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said he is optimistic one of his deputies will recover and return to work after a collision with a semitruck Tuesday left the deputy with critical injuries.

“He will survive and heal up from this, but it’s just going to be a long haul,” Wheeler said Thursday.

Deputy Alexander Hughes, 29, remains in critical condition at Kootenai Health. He is on a ventilator and under sedation with broken bones, a concussion and internal injuries, Wheeler said.

Hughes was on duty Tuesday night, driving his patrol vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, south on U.S. Highway 95. He was attempting a U-turn near Cocolalla when he was struck on the driver’s side by a southbound semi driven by Adil Naib, of Calgary, Alberta, according to the Idaho State Police.

“It took about 50 minutes to cut him out of the car,” said Wheeler, who responded to the scene of the crash along with other department officials.

“This is one of those accidents where you look at the results of the collision and you say that no one should have survived it, and this is just a miracle. I recognize that God saved this young man,” the sheriff said. “It should have been horrendous and he should have lost his life.”

Wheeler said he is grateful for the efforts of emergency responders who worked hard to free Hughes and treat his injuries. The agencies were the Sagle Fire District, Bonner County Emergency Medical Services and Sandpoint Fire Department.

Hughes has worked for the sheriff’s department about five years and was with the Sandpoint Police Department before that. He and his wife, Stacey, have three young children, including a baby.

To help the family with expenses, the sheriff’s office set up a benefit fund under the name “Deputy Alex Hughes” at Mountain West Bank, Wheeler said.

“He’s probably going to be out several months recuperating,” he said. “We’ll be there 100 percent behind him and make sure he has everything he needs to recover from this.”

The surgeon indicated that the prognosis for a full recovery is good, Wheeler said.

“We are just praying for a quick recovery and that he can get back to work and do what he loves to do, which is work as a police officer,” he said.

The crash is under investigation by the ISP.