PHOTO BY ARTHUR MCLEAN Chief Billy Hicks' police cruiser at a local garage after his accident Saturday. Thomasville Police Chief Billy Hicks and Ronald Jowers are in stable condition after a violent car accident in Hicks' patrol car Saturday night. But Hicks could suffer from longterm paralysis.

Hicks was returning from Faunsdale on Alabama Hwy. 5 about two miles north of Thomasville about 9:30 at night when the accident occurred. Hicks and Jowers were taken to Southwest Alabama Medical Center and then transferred to USA Medical Center in Mobile.

Hicks told family members that a tire blew out on the vehicle causing it to veer out of control off the road. Pine Hill Police were the first to arrive at the scene and found Hicks and Jowers trapped in the crushed and flaming Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser. Police were able to put out the fire before Thomasville and Pine Hill Firefighters arrived on the scene.

Hicks and Jowers had to be cut from the car before JETS and Medcare ambulances could take them to the hospital.

Hicks suffered sever back injuries and underwent two procedures at USA Medical Center to attempt to repair the damage. Friends said Hicks was getting stronger by Tuesday and was talking at length with family and friends.

"The entire city is praying for Chief Hicks and Mr. Jowers along with their families as they begin recovery from their injuries," Mayor Sheldon Day said.

"We're just hurting without seeing him here," said Audrey Anderson, assistant to the chief. "He was always at work, and now he won't be for a while. He's like a brother to me."

Hicks joined the Thomasville Police Department as a teenager and has served for nearly 30 years, working his way up to the highest rank in the department. He served as deputy chief under chief Thomas Booker and was named interim chief when Booker left in early 2005. He was confirmed as permanent chief in December of 2005.

Hicks had just prepared a letter recommending the council appoint Adam Gunter as deputy chief, a position that had been vacant since Hicks' promotion. Day said the council would likely go ahead and act on that letter and make Gunter interim chief at it's Monday meeting.

The night of the accident, Hicks took to the road to help the city handle a serious water problem. He had gone to Faunsdale to pick up Russell Hancock, a water system employee who was out camping at the time, according to Day. Jowers was visiting with Hicks and agreed to ride along with the chief. Hicks and Jowers were returning from dropping Hancock back at his campsite when the accident occurred.