After motorcycle crash, Thurston County sheriff undergoes surgery, in critical/stable condition

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza, critically injured in a motorcycle crash in Montana, underwent surgery Wednesday to fuse a bone in his neck and "has shown improvement from last night," the sheriff's office said.

Snaza suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash in Sanders County, Montana, on Tuesday while he was off duty. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, deputies said. The crash is being investigated by the Montana State Patrol.  Snaza was airlifted to a hospital in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, where he was listed in critical but stable condition Wednesday night.

"He went into surgery this afternoon at 4 p.m. to fuse a bone in his neck," the Thurston County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Wednesday night. "The doctor has completed the surgery and all indications are it went well."

It added, "Sheriff Snaza is still under heavy sedation and being assisted by a ventilator."

The office said Snaza's family has asked that the Thurston County Sheriff's Office be the point of contact for any cards, flowers, or well wishes. Please send to Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502.

 

Snaza has worked for the sheriff's office since 1993 and was first elected sheriff in 2011.