UPDATE: After spending 22 days in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit, the Florence veteran paramedic who was involved in a head-on collision with an alleged intoxicated driver, has been released from the hospital. Tessie Odom Smith endured five operations over the course of the 22 days and lost her right leg as a result of the March 9 crash.

A press release from Florence County Emergency Management Services Sgt Billy Hatchell says Smith was discharged from McLeod Health Thursday afternoon. She was taken to her mother’s home where she will be cared for throughout the recovery process. Smith was transported by a Florence County EMS ambulance with an escort of Florence County Fire Departments, Highway Department and Sheriff’s Department.

FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – The Florence community is rallying behind an EMS worker severely injured in a head on crash with a reportedly intoxicated driver Wednesday morning.

A head-on collision between an EMS vehicle and a pick-up truck forced Martin Luther King Bridge near McLeod Hospital to be shut down Wednesday morning. According to Florence Police Major Carlos Raines, it happened around 5:00 a.m. on the bridge, which connects Lucas and Church Streets.

Major Raines said three people, two EMS workers in the ambulance, which was headed west and on its way to an emergency call, and the driver of the pick-up, were transported to McLeod for treatment of their injuries.

According to Florence County EMS Spokesperson Billy Hatchell, one of the EMS workers was treated and released while the other remains in the hospital with serious injuries.

Hatchell says the EMS workers involved in the crash are Tessie Odom Smith, 47, of Pamplico, and Joshua Craig, 29, of Florence. Smith remains hospitalized Thursday following the collision. Smith is a 15 year veteran with Florence County EMS and Craig has been with Florence County EMS for six months.

In an updated press release from Smith’s family on March 24, family members say Tessie is no longer on the ventilator, breathing on her own and no longer sedated. They add, “15 days after the collision, five operations and 15 days in Trauma ICU, Tessie is doing well.” The release also reveals that all of Smith’s fractures have been addressed and repaired, however the doctor believes she still needs the fixators to stay in place for a while longer.

In a statement from Smith’s family, it was revealed that the seasoned paramedic lost her right leg as a result of the crash. The family’s full statement is below:

On March 9th, 2016 Tessie Odom Smith, a paramedic with Florence County EMS, was involved in a head on collision while responding to a call. She has suffered serious and potentially life threatening injuries, to include the amputation of her right leg, and will require several more procedures to address the other injuries received as a result of the collision.  While she remains in critical condition, we remain hopefully optimistic as her stability continues to improve every day.

Tessie has served as an EMT/paramedic for over 20 years and has touched more lives than we could ever imagine. The outpouring of love and support we received these last few days has blessed our family more than words can describe. Please continue to pray for Tessie as she has some long, tough days ahead of her.  We will continue to provide updates daily on her Facebook support page, “Praying For Tessie Smith.“

Kate Smith is a Florence County Paramedic and works with both Tessie Odom Smith and Joshua Craig. But she has known Smith for nearly twenty years.

“We try not to let the day to day things interfere with what we’re supposed to do with our jobs, obviously this is a lot more extreme than what we’re use to,” said Smith.

“They’re upset, sad and worried. They care so much for Tessie and she’s on everyone’s mind. But they also know that there are people here in Florence who need 911,” added Hatchell.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Smith, and in just one day the community has given more than $11,000 toward her medical expenses and recovery. The page notes, “She has taken care of so many of us in our time of need and now its our turn to return the favor!” The page was created with a goal of raising $25,000 for Smith.

Eva Davis, one of Smith’s closest friends created the GoFundMe page. Davis tells News13 Smith was the first person to let her know that her father was in cardiac arrest five years ago before he died.

“God works things out and he put things on people’s hearts at different times to do different things and it just bothers me that these people put their life on the line everyday,” mentioned Davis.

Raines said the truck driver, Jody Lynn Heglar, 45, of Norwood, NC, is now in custody and is charged with driving under suspension and felony DUI. Heglar has been booked into the Florence County Detention Center.

The clean-up continued late Wednesday morning and the bridge was expected to re-open by noon.