Safety Harbor man loses his leg but not his spirit

St. Petersburg, Florida - Sunday, after spending seven months in the hospital, 20-year-old Andrew Hall was finally well enough to be released from Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

Hall has cerebral palsy and struggled his whole life to walk. He was waiting for a ride outside his Safety Harbor apartment back on April 20th when, out of nowhere, investigators say a drunk driver slammed into him.

The impact of the accident left Hall's left leg severed at the hip and his pelvis shattered. Hall must now learn how to get around all over again. He says, "I never would have dreamed that I'd just be suddenly standing on the sidewalk and, you know, damn near almost die."

Detectives say Joshua West was behind the wheel that fateful day, driving the vehicle that slammed into Hall. West faced charges of DUI and leaving the scene of a crash with serious injuries. He was sentenced to 13 months in state prison for violating his probation on drug charges.

But on Sunday, the focus was on Andrew, who explains what the hardest part of this experience has been. "I've overcome things and I'll overcome this, but the hardest thing is this has, and will, change and affect my life forever."

Hall is focused on family and on being home right now. His father, Hayna Arana, says, "I'm overwhelmed that he's home. He's finally home."

Hall is hoping that people will learn from what has happened to him and think twice about drinking and driving. "I really hope this provokes a lot of change and it wakes a lot of people up. I really do."

Meanwhile, Andrew says he's trying not to be bitter and he's turned the other cheek. He says there are nights when he prays for Joshua West.

"Joshua West, for many years, is going to live a very boring and mundane life. I mean, people can only imagine what it's like to live seven months in the hospital. I can only imagine what it's going to be like to be laying on some uncomfortable cot behind some steel bars. It's game over for Josh and it's game on for Andrew."