Franklin High athlete released from hospital 55 days after wreck in Santa Teresa

James McClain-Green, the dual sport athlete out of Franklin High School, was released from the hospital after nearly two months and multiple surgeries.

McClain-Green was critically injured in a car crash in mid-November. The Jeep he was riding in rolled and pinned him underneath the vehicle. The driver of the Jeep, 17-year-old Pablo Payan, was charged with DWI. Court documents obtained by ABC-7 state Payan had been drinking at a house party moments before the crash.

McClain-Green spent the last 55 days at University Medical Center, where he underwent eight surgeries.

Friday, McClain-Green walked out of the hospital alongside his family and told ABC-7 he was happy to be alive. “I want to thank El Paso, for the support that you gave me throughout this process, I’m very grateful and thankful to be living,” the teenager said.

McClain-Green said he hopes to get back to sports and perform better than he did before the crash.

McClain-Green’s father, Lamar, expressed gratitude to the UMC staff for the job they performed on his son saying “We’d like to thank UMC hospital, they did a phenomenal job.”

McCLain-Green’s father said that his son James is in good spirits but is still not 100 percent.

ABC 7 continues to speak with the McClain-Green family and will bring you the full story of his recovery tonight on ABC 7 at 10.