An 81-year-old Los Angeles woman is facing a lengthy recovery after losing both legs when a suspected impaired driver crashed into an outdoor dining area where she was having lunch with her daughter.
Cristina Vargas was dining at a sidewalk table outside Los Cinco Puntos restaurant in the Boyle Heights neighborhood on the afternoon of July 7 when an SUV veered off the roadway and struck her group at approximately 3:30 p.m. She was accompanied by her daughter, Gabriela Vargas, and a male friend at the time of the incident.
Surveillance footage from the scene captured the SUV departing from its normal path of travel and mounting the sidewalk before colliding with the outdoor dining area. The sound of screeching tires preceded the impact, which sent patrons, furniture, and other items airborne.
Gabriela Vargas described the harrowing moments before impact. She recalled hearing the screeching sound and looking up to see headlights and a vehicle bumper approaching before hearing a loud crash. She reported being thrown into the air by the force of the collision.
The incident resulted in Cristina Vargas being pinned beneath the vehicle, with her lower body trapped. Gabriela sustained a head injury and a significant laceration to her knee. All three victims were transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment.
While Gabriela and the male companion have recovered from their injuries, Cristina faced far more severe medical challenges. She underwent three separate surgical procedures before doctors determined that amputation of both legs was necessary. Despite the devastating nature of her injuries, Cristina has maintained what her daughter describes as a positive outlook and has expressed gratitude for surviving the incident.
The widowed mother of two is currently undergoing physical therapy at a rehabilitation facility and is expected to return home in the near future. She has indicated she looks forward to being reunited with family and friends during her continued recovery.
Gabriela has stated her commitment to ensuring her mother receives the highest quality of care moving forward.
According to police reports, the driver was allegedly impaired at the time of the collision. The female driver, whose identity has not been publicly released, was arrested at the scene and faces multiple felony charges.
A fundraising effort organized by a friend of the family has raised more than $30,000 as of this weekend. The funds are intended to address substantial medical expenses, ongoing rehabilitation costs, and daily living expenses. The family also faces the need to modify their home to accommodate Cristina’s disability and to cover specialized care requirements.
The fundraising appeal notes that the road ahead presents significant challenges but expresses hope that community support will allow the family to focus on healing rather than financial pressures during this difficult period.
The case remains under investigation by local authorities.
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