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Teenager in shocking crash slowly making progress in recovery

Surveillance videos captured his car rolling over several times before coming to a stop in the Feb. 28 hit-and-run crash.

SARASOTA, Fla. — Watching the crash play out, it's hard to believe anyone could survive it. Surveillance cameras captured the car rolling over several times before coming to a stop in the Feb. 28 hit-and-run.

Incredibly, the teenager behind the wheel made it out alive. Jack Kelley, 19, suffered a traumatic brain injury and is still in the intensive care unit at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

“If I feel my boy needs me, I'm going to be here,” said Jack’s dad, Mike Kelley.

Every day, for 12 hours a day, Mike has been by his side. He said his son is slowly making progress.

“Little baby steps each day,” he explained.

RELATED: Police arrest man accused of hit-and-run crash that sent car flying

He said Jack is able to take small steps, with two people at his side. He's finally able to eat and breathe on his own, and speak a little.

“The doc asked today when he got there, they said, 'Who's that guy?' and he goes, 'I don't know,' and he smiled at me,” Mike said. “He clearly knows who it is, but he's maintained his memory, his sense of humor.”

Mike said the community's support has been overwhelming. He keeps them up-to-date with Jack's recovery on this #JackStrong Facebook page.

Jack's life changed in a split second, but his dad knows getting it back to normal will take a lot longer.

“There's no rose-colored glasses here because this process is going to take and his recovery is going to take months, if not years,” he said.

Next month is the high school all-star basketball game between Sarasota and Manatee counties. Jack played in last year's game. This year, his old coach told Mike all of the money raised at the game will go to his family.

Officials arrested Zachari Block, 24, in the crash and charged him with leaving the scene of a crash involving serious injury and driving with no valid license involving a serious injury, 

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