SARASOTA, Fla. — A Sarasota man is grateful to be alive tonight, exactly one month after he was involved in a New Year's Day hit-and-run crash.
After ringing in the new year downtown, John Woodall decided to walk home. He said he was in the crosswalk at the intersection of Ringling and U.S. Highway 301 when a driver hit him and then took off.
"I'm lucky to sitting here talking to you right now; I'm lucky to be sitting here breathing," said Woodall. He said he was left with several broken bones, internal bleeding and a concussion, clinging to life.
"During our last doctor's appointment, he told me most people sustaining that type of injury probably wouldn't have made it," said Woodall.
While the driver didn't stop, fortunately, someone else ran for help.
"From what I was told, there was a homeless guy that was there at that intersection when it happened, and he was the one who hailed police. So whoever this homeless guy is — my life to him," said Woodall.
The Sarasota Police Department is investigating, telling 10 Tampa Bay they've tracked down the suspected driver but haven't yet made an arrest. They added that the Traffic Homicide Investigative Unit is thoroughly investigating the situation and it remains a priority.
Woodall, who frequently walks and rides scooters, said this is the third hit-and-run he's been a victim of in Sarasota.
"Nobody wants to face the music anymore!" said Woodall. "They're more worried about what would happen to them in a situation like that."
Using a wheelchair for the foreseeable future, Woodall now waits for justice.
"I'm not in the market of trying to ruin someone else's life, but somebody has to pay the consequences of what happened to me," Woodall said. "I can barely move right now. My upper body is all I've got. And all of this happened because of someone else's negligence, not because of mine."
After multiple surgeries, Woodall isn’t expected to walk for at least another three months. If anyone wants to help with medical bills, there is a GoFundMe page supporting him.