BARC Electric Cooperative’s Deaven Snyder is enduring a tough recovery resulting from a horrific ATV accident, but coworkers at the Virginia co-op are lightening his load by rallying behind the lineworker and his wife, Sierra.

A journeyman lineman at the Millboro-based co-op, Snyder, 29, and a friend were operating the brand-new vehicle in Clifton Forge in April and toppled over while going up a 70-foot embankment. The ATV landed on Snyder, fracturing his skull, parts of his face and jaw, his shoulder and a few ribs, collapsing his left lung. He also suffered a traumatic brain injury.

“The amount of support has been insane,” Snyder said. “People got together quickly and did any and everything they could. It wasn’t like they got together a couple of weeks later. It was instant support, and not just from a few coworkers, but all of them.”

The co-op’s Cody O’Neill and Skyler Merchant set up a GoFundMe page that’s raised more than $6,000 so far for medical bills.

“I know Deaven would do anything in the world for us, and I knew Sierra had a lot on her plate, so she gave us permission to set up the site,” said O’Neill, a line construction foreman.

Coworkers are also performing yard work, various errands and, of course, delivering meals. During the chaotic early days after the accident, Human Resources Director Ashley Hash helped Sierra with paperwork and navigating next steps.

For Sierra Snyder, the outpouring of support has been especially meaningful because she started working at the co-op just weeks before the accident.

“I hadn’t been there that long, so I didn’t have any time off, but my coworkers wanted me to be able to be with Deaven through his recovery,” she said.

CEO Bill Buchanan approached the co-op’s directors to allow employees to donate unused leave to Sierra. “We wanted to be helpful on the financial side. The situation is stressful enough without having to worry about making ends meet,” he said. The co-op also has accommodated Sierra’s schedule for Deaven’s doctor visits.

Deaven said doctors are pleased with his progress, and he hopes they’ll clear him to return to work soon. The outpouring of support lifted the couple’s spirits and is fueling their emotional recovery.

“It definitely does help to feel supported not only by the people you work with but by the co-op itself,” Sierra said. “You don’t see that kind of care or dedication to employees and their well-being anywhere else, really.”