'I forgive him': Milwaukee boy recovering in ICU after accident involving unlicensed driver

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee boy has spent two weeks in the intensive care unit, fighting to recover after he was involved in a vehicle accident three days before Christmas.

Daniel Malatt said he had gifted his 12-year-old son, Cameron, a minibike for the holiday, as he loved anything car-related and had been riding bikes since he was small.

Cameron had been out and was coming home before dark, when officials said he was involved in a crash near 20th and Vine Dec. 22. 

According to court documents, the driver, 38-year-old Michael Mack, told police he "felt a loud bang."

But prosecutors said Mack shouldn't have been behind the wheel as his driving status was marked suspended by the state Department of Transportation and he did not have a valid driver's license.

Now Mack is in custody and facing felony charges, while Cameron faces a long road to recovery.

"We're holding up, but it's rough," Malatt said. "First time in nine years he's gotten hurt."

Malatt said he and his girlfriend were at home when a bystander ran to their front door and knocked.

"I think he knew who we were because he was like, doesn't your son ride bikes and minibikes and stuff?" Malatt recalled. "I was like, yeah, why? And he's like, I think he just got hit by a car."

When they rushed to the scene, Malatt said he "almost collapsed" on the spot.

"I almost didn't recognize him at first," Malatt said. 

Cameron was taken to a local hospital where he's been since, undergoing multiple facial and plastic surgeries.

"His whole face was floating. Nothing was connected," Malatt said. "His face was smashed in, every bone in his face was broken, two broken femurs, broke his hip bone up here on his leg, broke his hand here on the side, pinky and center of his hand, pretty bad shape."

Now, the family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover hospital bills and the cost of therapy for years ahead.

As for a message to Mack?

"I forgive him. I forgive him," Malatt said. "My son's alive. That's all I could ask for."

Mack will appear next in court on Jan. 21.