A man whose head was crushed by a hit-and-run driver who sped through a parking lot outside a Boy Scout meeting in Olympia says he’s angered by the prison sentence the man responsible received.

Dan Kitchings and his father-in-law, Dee Cooper, saw Cody Chipman speed into a parking lot near about a dozen people, including some scouts, at about 50 mph.

When Kitchings and Cooper went to confront Chipman, Chipman threw his vehicle in reverse with the driver's side door open and ran down both men.

The fact that Kitchings is alive and able to speak is baffling even to surgeons who say they have never seen anyone survive such severe swelling of the brain.

His skull was sawed open and it still moves because his skull has a loose hinge to handle continued swelling.

“There are a lot of friends I have that wonder how I survived this,” said Kitchings. “Anytime I play with the kids I worry about it.  Anytime I do anything physical I worry about it.”

The 24-year-old Chipman was sentenced Wednesday for the hit-and-run eight months ago that left Kitchings on life support and his father-in-law in intensive care with shattered bones and teeth.

Chipman spoke in court for the first time Wednesday.

“I’d like to take this time to express my deep apologies to you and your families,” said Chipman.

Kitchings asked the judge to give Chipman a 10-year prison sentence, since Kitchings is facing staggering medical bills, a lifetime of rehabilitation, and not being able to drive a truck--the only job he's ever had.

The judge gave Chipman 3 years, and 4 months.

“So can I forgive him?  No.  He’s changed my life. I’m so happy he gets to go back to work in probably two years-three years. Because I can’t!  I can’t go back to the job I’ve done for 19 years.  So, it kind of makes it hard for me,” said Kitchings.

“If (Chipman) really knew that he did it and he really knew that he was sorry, there was a much easier way to go about this. He’s sorry he’s going to prison, I believe that,” said Kitchings’ wife, Laura.

In addition to his medical bills and injuries, Kitchings received a denial letter from Social Security denying his application for disability.