Crash victim says he sympathizes with man convicted of leaving the scene

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – The Florida teenager who survived a tragic crash in Sarasota last February says he’s sympathetic of the man sentenced in the accident.

Jackson Kelley was 19 at the time of the accident on February 28. He was commuting to school on north Tamiami Trail when the minivan Zachari Brock was driving crashed into him, causing his car to flip multiple times into the Lantern Inn parking lot.

Brock drove away from the scene of the crash and Kelley was taken to the hospital where he was fighting for his life.

Kelley suffered a brain injury. He says he was in a coma for 18 days and had to re-learn how to walk and talk.

Nearly a year after the crash, Brock accepted a plea agreement. He was convicted of leaving the scene of an accident with a serious bodily injury and not having a driver’s license. His trial was scheduled to begin on Monday but Friday he took the plea agreement.

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About the Author

Brice Van Elswyk started his professional career as an investment banker in 1998. Over the next 14 years, Brice worked for several international investment banks, eventually specializing in structured products with complex tax, accounting, and regulatory capital constraints.While at the State Attorney’s Office, Brice prosecuted crimes ranging from misdemeanors such as DUI’s and domestic batteries, all the way to homicide, drug trafficking and sex crimes. Most recently, Brice was a specialty prosecutor focusing on capital sex crimes and crimes against children. Now, Brice combines his vast knowledge of finance, and his extensive experience as a trial attorney to serve clients in both criminal defense and civil matters.