A man who was drunk and driving the wrong way on Panama City Beach Parkway when he hit a woman head-on, critically injuring her, was sentenced to 3 years in prison Friday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Former WMBB-TV reporter Tess Rowland, who has endured multiple surgeries since the 2019 wreck, told defendant Jacob Savage at sentencing that he changed her life forever when he chose to drink and drive.
“You may be serving three years, but you, Mr. Savage, have handed me a life sentence,” Rowland said in court. “There isn’t a day I don’t live in pain, see my scars and shutter, or replay the final moments of the crash in my mind. All because you had to celebrate your 22nd birthday.”
Prosecutor Frank Sullivan told Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark that if the case went to trial he would prove the defendant was intoxicated and in possession of marijuana and a controlled substance at the time of the wreck. He pled No Contest and Judge Clark adjudicated him guilty. In addition to prison, he was given 6 years’ probation, his driver’s license was suspended for a year after he serves his sentence, and he must perform 250 hours of public service work. The judge reserved ruling on restitution.
Rowland was involved in the plea process and in agreement with the resolution.
“You are a lot stronger person after the accident, you had to be to make it through that,” Clark said. “And I think you are an inspiration not just for people who are victims of DUI drivers, but for victims of other crimes.”
Rowland was headed to work, eastbound on Panama City Beach Parkway in her 2019 Honda SUV, on May 4, 2021. The defendant, driving a 2007 Chevy Avalanche, turned west into the eastbound lanes and a short distance later hit the Honda head-on, destroying the vehicle. The defendant was not injured, and tests showed his BAC (blood-alcohol content) was 1 ½ times the legal limit of .08.
In addition to the multiple surgeries for the damage to her right shoulder and leg, Rowland is preparing for a shoulder replacement and still cannot lift more than 5 pounds with that arm.
“My knee still gives out on me after I’ve walked a long distance, and I’ve learned to tolerate constant pain,” she said at sentencing. “My shoulder is still classified as broken as the plates and screws have backed out, meaning I could need a shoulder replacement as soon as this year.”
Rowland said she could never forgive the defendant but would pray for him for the sake of others.
“Because if you make this choice again, you could easily kill someone,” she said. “Let it be known that I made a choice to survive, you did not leave me in a position to.”
Basford thanked the multiple agencies involved in the investigation, including the Panama City Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Highway Patrol.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.