Veteran thankful he's alive after Independence Day parade crash in Cudahy
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Jermont Terry reports Video by 620wtmj.com
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CUDAHY- A veteran that was struck during Cudahy's Independence Day parade is speaking out.
The man was carrying the American flag when the car behind him surged forward and hit him.
Home video captured Desert Storm veteran Brad Smith getting run over at the end of the parade.
"I just didn't want to see it," said Smith.
It's video he couldn't bring himself to watch at first.
"I was just like I lived through this, it looked a lot worse than it really was," described Smith. "It was just a freak accident."
Smith was marching in the parade with the VFW Post -- something he's done since 2008.
At the wheel, an 87-year-old World War II veteran.
The 87-year-old became overwhelmed from the extreme heat and passed out. The car hit Smith and veered out of control.
"I remember (thinking) why is the car hitting me because of slope of the car of the hood -- it more or less picked me up over the hood," recalled Smith. "I don't remember hitting the windshield I didn't feel it."
He has six stitches to his head. He's moving at slower pace, but walking.
"I thank the Lord," said Smith. "I'm one lucky son of a gun."
Smith thanks all of the emergency crews who helped him on scene. The 87-year-old driver is reportedly doing well, but he feels bad about the accident.
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