Paramedic hit by distracted driver

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Chad Lowery is home from the hospital, sporting a neck and back brace.  "I know that I'm pretty fortunate to come away with just the injuries that I have," he said.

The 37-year-old engineer paramedic with the Orange County Fire Department was working a motorcycle accident two weeks ago when a driver, who was on a cell phone, plowed right into him.

Lowrey's physical pain is manageable. It's not being able to interact with his new baby girl, Elyse, that hurts him the most.

"That's probably been the toughest part, not being able to get down on the ground and play with her and be the dad that I want to be. This is a special time for her. She's 8 months and the next 3 months, shes going to change a lot."

The veteran firefighter has his wife by his side. He doesn't remember getting hit but he remembers seeing his wife at the hospital afterward.

"When I saw her for the first time, it brought me to tears; they're most important, most important two people in my life."

When asked how she felt about the distracted driver that left her husband temporarily impaired, wife Nikki said, "It's a good reminder for people to pay attention on the road."

For now, Chad Lowrey will have to take it easy as he has a long road to recovery.

"His will is stronger than his bones right now though and it's going to be really important for him to remember that," said Nikki.

As far as his baby girl is concerned, she still has her daddy.