JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Clay County woman says she’s grateful to be alive after bystanders helped her escape her car following a rollover crash into a Jacksonville retention pond.
Destiny Boyette of Middleburg says after 7 am on August 17, she was driving on the First Coast Expressway (Florida State Road 23) headed towards I-10 when she crashed.
“I just remember hitting a bump, and I ran off the road a little bit,” said Boyette. “I overcorrected. So I started swerving like crazy. Just going all over the road and then ended up flipping and I landed in the pond. I think I’ve flipped about three times before I landed in the pond,” she recalled.
Boyette says despite fearing death, she was determined to be a survivor.
“...Just remembered the water filling up in the car so fast.... I crawled to the back of my car and I started hitting on the back window...I was only able to get it halfway down. I was able to press the button, and I was only able to get it halfway down,” Boyette remembered.
Destiny says a man, part of a group of good samaritans, jumped in the pond, opened her car door, and helped her swim up to safety. She says women onshore even stayed and prayed with her until first responders arrived.
“I’m so thankful I don’t think I would’ve been able to get out of that car without the guy that jumped in the water or any of the women there,” Boyette recalled.
“I just remember thinking I’m probably gonna be paralyzed for the rest of my life, I’m probably gonna be messed up after this, but I’m just happy to be alive,” Boyette told Action News Jax’s Zion Decoteau.
As fate would have it, Destiny is not paralyzed. She can walk—although right now it’s challenging—with the help of a back brace.
Now she’s paying it forward. Her Facebook page is filled with tips on how to survive accidents like hers, like staying calm and even emergency supplies like window-breaking tools. With a second chance at life, she wants to have more life experiences.
“...Because if I would’ve went out like that, I would’ve probably been mad,” said Boyette.
Overall, Boyette says she’s just grateful to be on the right side of the dirt.
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