ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A 21-year-old man was critically injured after running in front of a car on U.S. Highway 1 on Thursday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said Tyler Devoe, of St. Augustine, ran into the path of a southbound Honda Civic driven by 16-year-old Vivian Lovette near the intersection of Ocean Boulevard about 8 p.m. He was airlifted to Orange Park Medical Center.
Janet Devoe, Tyler's mother, spoke with Channel 4's Emily Turner about the accident outside her son's Shands hospital room.
"Thanksgiving went okay, as far as the dinner and everything, but when we got the call, our world just came crashing down," she said.
After about five hours in the surgery room, Devoe is in serious but stable condition. However, he may still lose a leg.
"He has injuries to all four of his limbs. His neck, pelvis and one really bad femur on his left leg," said Devoe.
Devoe said her son got into a fight at a Kangaroo station near the site of the accident. She said a man came after her son with a crutch and the 21-year-old either ran or was pushed into traffic before Lovette hit him.
The man with the crutch ran off, Devoe said.
No charges have been filed against the young driver. Devoe said she plans to pursue a criminal investigation against the man her son was fighting.
The accident was still under investigation, and the FHP report says blood-alcohol test on Devoe was conducted and charges are pending.
The mother said her first priority is helping her son recover and continuing to be thankful that her son is alive.
"He's got a lot of people praying for him and so far God has answered the prayers," said Devoe.