DENVER -- Seth Mutscheler's family is counting their blessings.

The 20-year-old is still in intensive care with broken legs, a crushed ankle, internal injuries and lacerations all over his body, but he is alive.

"He will recover," said Bill Mutschler, Seth's father. "It's going to be a long, long road, but he's going to make it."

The family was not always so certain. Seth has been sedated for a week since the accident in Lakewood on March 13. For his sister, Trisia Carlson, it was almost too much to bear.

"I don't want to see him like that," she said with tears in her eyes.

They said Seth doesn't remember the S.U.V. crashing head-on into his car or what happened to his friend Samara Stricklen.

"After his first surgery, he said, 'Dad, call Samara, Samara knows what happened,'" Bill Mutschler said.

They say before Samara died, she told an officer to take care of Seth first.

It was not the first time their family has had a close brush with death. His older sister survived the shooting at Columbine.

"She shouldn't have made it out alive," said Jeanne Schlaht, Seth's mother. "And Seth shouldn't have made it out alive, but they did because they're supposed to be here."

They said Seth was still trying to figure out what to do with his life, and now, he will still have a chance.

The 16-year-old driver of the sport utility vehicle that hit Seth is accused of driving drunk.

Tuesday, the Jefferson County District Attorney's office was given an extra week to decide what criminal charges she could face.

Meanwhile, Seth Mutchler's family just hopes this sends a message about drinking and driving.

"Tell somebody every week, every day," said Bill Mutschler. "Just keep telling people, and some day it will get through."