A Muldrow man is continuing to recover from injuries he sustained in a July 31 single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 64, near Muldrow, according to family members.

Earl Jenkins was reportedly airlifted to Baptist hospital in Little Rock, Ark. after sustaining life-threatening injuries. Since then, he has been moved to the hospital’s Fort Smith location.

Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane said deputy Daniel Whitus was off duty and on his way to court when he came across Jenkins’ wrecked vehicle. Whitus quickly ran to the vehicle, got the door open, and saw that Jenkins was in and out of consciousness and very incoherent.

Lane said Whitus was able to physically remove Jenkins and drag him a safe distance away from the vehicle, just before the truck ignited and burst into flames.

“As the next arriving patrol units arrived, the vehicle was already fully-engulfed in flames. Deputy Whitus’s heroic actions and disregard for his own safety, most definitely saved this man’s life,” Lane said.

Now, family members, church family and friends are asking for help in paying for Jenkins’ medical bills and travel expenses. A GoFund-Me account has been set up online for anyone wishing to make a monetary donation. So far, about $500 has been raised out of their $10,000 goal.

“We are hopeful that he makes a full recovery, but we know that it will be a very long process,” Lucinda Griffin, his step-daughter who organized the fundraiser, wrote. “My mom has been with him and has taken off work. Several people have reached out to ask about donating. Those of you who don’t want to donate through GoFundMe, please contact anyone in the immediate family and we can tell you how else to donate.”

Griffin said all donations will go toward Jenkins’ bills and expenses, and be greatly appreciated.

Jenkins’ wife, Nita Jenkins, said her husband was moved to Baptist hospital in Fort Smith on Aug. 20, where he is currently listed in critical care in the intensive care unit.

“He is still on a ventilator but they are slowly weening him off,” she said. “He suffered a stroke when he was still in Little Rock, so that set him back a little.” Nita said she and her family believe angels were watching over Jenkins that day, because they still have a lot of unanswered questions.

“We still don’t know what happened to the truck to cause it to burst into flames like it did,” she said. “The deputy told us there were no skid marks; they still don’t exactly know what actually happened.”

Nita said her husband was doing cardio rehab three days a week at Baptist hospital and was on his way home when the accident reportedly occurred.

“We asked the nurses there if he seemed off or unlike himself that day, but they all said he was feeling good, and made the remark that he was headed home to take care of his goats,” she said.

Nita said police told her that there were a couple of men there trying to get the doors open when they arrived on the scene.

“We did find out that the two gentlemen that stopped and tried to help were from Gans, and they were on their way to a funeral,” she said. “I don’t know who they were but I believe they were angels sent there to look out for Earl.”

Nita said her husband’s injuries were more than expected.

“When he got to the hospital, they found he had a broken neck, nose, right ankle and left pelvic, and nearly every rib was fractured – some even broken in two or three places. It took a thoracic surgeon and a team of doctors to “plate” his ribs back together – it was a miracle there were doctors in Little Rock that could do it – because we were told there are very few doctors out there that could.”

The good news was Jenkins did not suffer any internal or spinal cord injuries.

“He was in a medically induced coma for about two weeks and still can’t speak or eat right now because of the trach, but he’s cognitively intact and tries to talk. He can nod his head in response and say some words but he is extremely weak,” Nita said.

But as of last Saturday, Nita said he has been awake and able to move his extremities some.

“They have started lifting him up and sitting him in a chair,” she said. “He can’t do it on his own but he is improving, and we expect him to walk again at some point. He has a long road ahead of him but God is with him, please keep the prayers coming.”

The outpouring of love, prayers and thoughts from the community have been overwhelming, Nita said.

“From family and friends, to our church and work families, we appreciate you all so much,” she said. “We haven’t been able to reach out to everyone like we’d like, but please know that we offer our thanks.”

Nita said when Jenkins is better, they plan to commend Deputy Whitus for his heroic actions.