JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — Tyler Fortin remembers speaking briefly with his dad about a slow leak in one of the tires on his ATV before riding with his friends earlier this year.

But the Johnston teenager doesn’t recall crashing into a utility pole.

“The next thing I remember was waking up at Hasbro [Children’s Hospital],” he said. “I was very confused because I didn’t know why I was there.”

The 16-year-old’s parents, Michelle and Joseph Fortin, told 12 News their son lost control of his ATV due to a flat tire and slammed into the pole, snapping it in half.

Tyler was rushed to the hospital with brain and spinal injuries, as well as several broken bones and fractures across his body. He was placed into a medically induced coma so his body could properly heal.

Thankfully, Tyler recovered faster than his doctors and parents had anticipated.

“It has been a scary road,” Joseph said. “To see him right now, I can’t believe that this is where we are at.”

Tyler’s parents told him what had happened shortly after the doctors woke him up.

Tyler Fortin (middle) and his parents, Joseph (left) and Michelle (right). (Alex Torres-Perez/WPRI-TV)

“I didn’t know it had to do anything with my ATV,” Tyler recalled. “I thought I was on my bike, actually. Then everybody told me and I was like ‘Wow.'”

His parents are grateful that their son is starting to feel like himself again.

“He is Tyler now,” Michelle said. “It took him awhile to get to where he is.”

Tyler has since been discharged from the hospital and is continuing his recovery at home.

“It felt amazing to be home and to have real food,” he said. “My bed felt amazing to sleep in for the first time [since the crash], and not being hooked to a machine was also amazing.”

Though he still has a long road to recovery ahead of him, Tyler stressed the importance of a decision he made prior to riding with his friends.

“If I didn’t have my helmet on, I wouldn’t be here right now,” he said. “It definitely saved my life.”

Tyler hopes to go riding again, though he acknowledged it won’t be anytime soon.

“When I’m able to, I’ll get back on my dirt bike,” he said.

The Fortins have appreciated the support they’ve received over the last couple of months. The GoFundMe page created to help offset Tyler’s medical expenses has raised more than $15,000.

“It makes us feel loved and we are grateful for everything that everyone has done for us,” Joseph said. “We couldn’t be happier.”