An 81-year-old California mother had both of her legs amputated after a suspected impaired driver crashed into the outdoor dining area of a Los Angeles restaurant where she was eating lunch. Cristina Vargas was seated at a sidewalk table outside Los Cinco Puntos in the city's Boyle Heights neighborhood with her daughter, Gabriela Vargas, and a male friend when an SUV veered onto the sidewalk and struck the group on July 7.
Surveillance footage shows the vehicle leaving the roadway and plowing into the dining area shortly after 3:30 p.m. Screeching tires can be heard moments before impact, sending patrons, tables, and other items flying. Gabriela told local station KTLA that she heard the tires and looked up to see headlights and a bumper approaching before a loud boom threw her into the air.
Cristina's lower body was pinned beneath the vehicle in the crash. Gabriela suffered a head injury and a deep laceration to her knee, and the family's male friend was also hurt. All three were taken to a hospital, where Gabriela and the friend have since recovered. Cristina's injuries were far more severe, requiring three surgeries and ultimately the amputation of both legs.
Despite the ordeal, Cristina said she is thankful to be alive and has kept a positive outlook. She is now undergoing physical therapy at a rehabilitation center and is expected to be allowed to return home soon. A widowed mother of two, she said she looks forward to being surrounded by family and friends as she continues to recover.
Police allege the driver was impaired at the time of the crash. The unidentified woman was arrested and has been charged with multiple felonies, according to KTLA.
A GoFundMe campaign created by a friend of the family has raised more than $30,000 as of Sunday night. The fundraiser notes that the family is facing massive medical bills, ongoing rehabilitation costs, and daily living expenses as Cristina adapts to her new circumstances.
«Cristina will need significant support to adapt to her new disability, including making their home accessible and covering the costs of specialized care. The road ahead is long and challenging, but with your help, they can focus on healing rather than the overwhelming financial stress,» the fundraiser reads.
The campaign describes Cristina as a «vibrant and social person with a true lust for life» who loved to dance and regularly attended events at the senior center. «Her vivacious spirit and love for connecting with others made her a beloved member of the community. This sudden change is especially heartbreaking for someone who has always embraced life so fully and actively,» the GoFundMe page states.
In an August 17 update, Gabriela thanked supporters and said the recovery is progressing slowly. «Thank you everybody for your love and support. We greatly appreciate it. It's a slow recovery but day by day we're getting through it. My mom's spirits remain hopeful as do mine. Recovery is very painful but she's giving it her all,» she said.