MACON, Ga. — Nate Martin, 31, was crossing Cherry Street in downtown Macon Wednesday night when a car struck him from behind.
After hitting the hood of the car, he rolled under the car, where he was stuck.
His dad, David Martin said it was a hard day for his family because they weren't sure if his son was going to survive.
"That was heartbreaking to me to see him; it was terrible," David Martin said.
He was talking on the phone with his son when he was crossing the street around 8:30 p.m.
"He just suddenly stopped talking, and then the phone kept running and I heard all of this screaming and yelling, and people telling, saying don't move him," David Martin said.
Security camera footage from The Hummingbird Stage & Taproom shows bystanders who rushed over to help, lifting up the car to pull him out.
His mom, Doreen Martin says she'll never forget the kindness of complete strangers that day.
"We are so, so thankful for the people at The Hummingbird, especially the guy who saw the accident got everybody together to save our son. That's really, that is what a hero is," Doreen Martin said.
She said her son needed two blood transfusions and a procedure to stop the bleeding, but the family says it's just remarkable that he's still alive today. He had a broken rib, injuries to his kidney and liver, a gash on his head, and road rash all over his back.
"You can't even tell that he was underneath a car. I mean it's just, it really is a miracle to me. And that we had so many friends and family and and church families and just tons of people praying for him," Doreen Martin said.
Their son is a parent himself to three little boys, each under 3. The youngest baby was born on July 4, and now, his dad's got a long recovery ahead.
"He does not remember anything. About it, he doesn't remember he was talking to me, he doesn't remember anything except for when he woke up on the ground and they were putting him in the ambulance," David Martin said.
They're still waiting to hear from the Bibb County Sheriff's Office about the driver who hit their son, but for now, they're just thankful he's still here to see another day. The family asks people keep praying for his recovery.
The sheriff's office says an arrest was made, but said it was because of a warrant — not because of the crash.
Nate Martin's parents said he's a carpenter and can't work to support his family for at least a couple months.
His family's started a GoFundMe page to help with his recovery costs, and you can view that here.