By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Olympian reports Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza remains in critical condition following the motorcycle accident that left him with a punctured lung, a lacerated kidney, a severely broken left arm and a damaged right hand.
Snaza underwent surgery Wednesday to fuse a bone in his neck.
[1]Sheriff John Snaza
Undersheriff Tim Braniff said at a press conference yesterday afternoon the 51-year-old is strong and “he’ll be back, according to Olympian news reporter Amelia Dickson.
The sheriff’s office informed the public on Wednesday morning they learned Snaza the evening before was involved in a single-vehicle accident in Sanders County, Montana, while off duty. The sheriff sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
He is the twin brother of Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza.
By Thursday, there were positive responses to the doctor’s request of movement, according to sheriff’s Lt. Tim Rudloff.
Rudloff has been keeping the public informed throughout by posting news releases on the department’s Facebook [2] page.
Braniff told the gathering Snaza has made significant improvements with breathing on his own, but was still being assisted by a ventilator because of the internal injuries.
“He has a long road to recovery, and that recovery will be aided by the outpouring of support shown thus far,” the undersheriff said.
Braniff is second-in command and running the office in the sheriff’s absence.
Snaza was first elected sheriff in 2010.
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Read “Undersheriff on Sheriff Snaza: ‘He is strong, and he’ll be back’” from The Olympian on Friday August 26, 2016, here [3]
For background, read “Breaking news: Thurston Sheriff Snaza seriously hurt in motorcycle wreck” from Wednesday August 24, 2016, here [4]