Man seriously hurt in Clay County wrong-way crash meets first responders who saved his life

Dylan Roughton said he is thankful he’s alive after he was seriously hurt in a wrong-way crash in Clay County in January.

Roughton suffered broken bones in his leg, ankle and pelvis and had a brain injury after he was hit by a driver who was under the influence.

“I was shocked. There was a lot going through my head because I didn’t understand anything had happened," Roughton said. "I didn’t know I was in a car wreck."

First responders from Clay and Duval counties cut him from his car and rushed him to the hospital.

“They told me I’m going to re-learn how to walk,” he said.

Roughton got the chance to meet the first responders who rescued him during a reunion at Orange Park Medical Center's Inpatient Rehab Center on Monday.

“You guys literally saved my life," Roughton told them. "I can’t  tell you how much I appreciate that."

Roughton's mom hugged every one of the first responders.

“(His car) was crushed and, to be honest, when we walked up, I didn’t know if he was alive or not,” Captain David Teetsell with Clay County Fire Rescue said.

First responders also collected money for Roughton and his family in a boot drive and gave it to him at the hospital

He has about six months to a year of recovery ahead.

Roughton said he gets his stitches and staples removed on Thursday and will be able to go home to his fiancée and 2-month-old son.

Cox Media Group