MIAMI (CBS4) – It was a very special day for a Ft. Lauderdale teen that was critically injured in a crash back in April which claimed the lives of two of his friends.
Still in a wheelchair due to the extent of his injuries, Brian Corbett, 18, graduated with the rest of his class from Cypress Bay High School on Sunday afternoon at the Bank United Center at the University of Miami.
“I’ve had a great attitude all my life,” said Corbett who was left paralyzed after the crash, “I get depressed sometimes, but I’m still alive.”
Corbett said he plans to go to college and is interested in becoming a paramedic.
The accident happened April 17th around 8:30 p.m. when Corbett and five other teens, packed into a Dodge pick up truck, were heading back to South Florida from Collier County where they had gone to a reggae concert.
The Florida Highway Patrol said for some reason the driver, 18-year old Nickolas Wagy, drifted into the median around Mile Marker 92 on Alligator Alley. Wagy then reportedly over-corrected as he tried to steer back onto the highway and rolled the truck. According to the FHP, several of his passengers were thrown from the truck as it rolled.
Sasha Abitante, 18, and Juan Zambrano, 17, were killed in the crash. Zambrano, who would have graduated from Cypress Bay High this year, was two days shy of his 18th birthday when he died.
Dylan Delgado,18, and Gabriel Fernandez, 18, received serious injuries. Wagy, the only person wearing a seat belt, received minor injuries.
