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'God spared my son's life for a reason': Teen's leg amputated after deadly Oakleaf crash

The mother of one of the three teens involved a deadly crash in Oakleaf wants people to drive safely.

Her son, Taj Richey, had to have his leg amputated due to injuries sustained Monday.

"A car is a not a toy," Stephanie Elder said.  "It costs lives when you don't follow the road rules."

"God spared my son's life for a reason, and I'm thankful for that," she added.

She said Richey, an 18-year-old senior at Oakleaf High School, is lucid, but heartbroken over his best friend, 16-year-old Keondre Moss.  Moss was killed in Monday's crash.

"We had to break the news to him [Thursday] morning," Elder said.  "It really broke his heart."

Right now, Brian Ransom is also still in the hospital.  His mother tells Action News Jax he suffered bleeding on the brain and broken bones.

Elder said Taj is an athlete, now facing a setback.

"He lost his leg, his left leg, all the way up to the thigh," Elder said.  "And he's really taking this really rough.  He loves football."

But Taj's recovery will be inspired by the friend he leaves behind.

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"The first thing he said was, ‘I have to do this for Keondre," Elder said.

With the investigation soon in its fourth day, Elder hopes answers come soon.

"If they were racing and someone hit them or hit them and made them lose control- or whatever it is -- I just need them to find them, or just come out and tell us, so we can have closure to this," Elder said.

Action News Jax asked the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office questions about the investigation Thursday, such as if they've contacted the two other drivers involved.

A JSO representative said in part, ‘There's nothing new to release.'