MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Javier Perez was moved to tears Thursday when he was presented with a new minivan, after thinking that a South Florida auto shop was only going to retrofit his old car with manual controls.
"Just because it is the next step to my freedom -- being able to drive -- and that's what I thought was going to happen, and then ... I'm sorry, it is incredible. Thank you," Perez said through tears.
The former South Dade Senior High School principal lost both legs in April 2016 when police said a drunken driver, Marilyn Aguilera, 51, lost control of her SUV and ran over Perez as he was coaching his 5-year-old son's Little League team.
Since then, the Perez family has received an outpouring of love and support from the community to help Perez on his road to recovery.
"This is incredible. There are no words to express how I feel right now," Perez said. "The community has gathered together and rallied behind me, and this is another show of how much love there is."
Since the accident, Perez's wife, Maytee, has done all the driving. She seemed thrilled with the generous gift.
"I don't get to drive, which is great," she said. "I hate driving, especially in Miami."
South Dade Toyota gave Perez the new vehicle, and Alex Vega, who owns The Auto Firm, is going to perform a $30,000 retrofit with manual controls and a hydraulic seat for free so Perez can drive again.
"I told Alex yesterday, this is like a kid the night before Christmas," Perez said. "Tomorrow we go fix my car, and it is finally that freedom I have been seeking."