An 81-year-old woman suffered catastrophic injuries and ultimately had both legs amputated after authorities say a suspected drunk driver plowed into her and her daughter as they dined at a Los Angeles restaurant.
Cristina Vargas and her daughter, Gabriela Vargas, had gone to Los Cinco Puntos, a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles, on July 7, where they were sharing lunch with a friend.
Gabriela told KTLA the group had just settled in around 3.20pm and were saying grace when a woman who was allegedly impaired sped down the street, losing control before the vehicle crashed directly into their table.
‘I was lifting up my head and I just saw headlights and a bumper and I heard a big boom,’ Gabriela recalled in her interview with the station.
Surveillance video from the scene shows the terrifying impact unfold in seconds, with a white SUV barreling into the outdoor dining area, striking the table and the three people seated there before finally coming to a halt against the restaurant wall.
Gabriela, Cristina and their friend all suffered injuries, though the mother’s were the most serious.
The daughter suffered a head injury and a deep laceration on her knee, but her mom was pinned under the vehicle, leaving her legs ‘just shredded,’ Gabriela told CBS News in July.
Everyone involved in the crash, including the driver, was rushed to the hospital. After three surgeries, doctors determined that Cristina’s legs would have to be amputated, according to a GoFundMe for the family’s medical expenses.
Cristina’s injuries were the most severe, and she had to have her legs amputated after undergoing three surgeries. She is pictured recovering in the hospital
Cristina was pinned under the car after the crash and is still undergoing physical therapy. She, her daughter and their friend are pictured outside the restaurant moments before the crash
Cristina Vargas, 81, suffered devastating injuries to her legs after a car crashed into her while she was having lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles on July 7 with her daughter
Cristina screamed ‘My legs! My legs!’ in Spanish as she lay pinned under the vehicle immediately after the crash, her daughter told CBS.
ALSO READ: Mariano Navone Stuns Ailing Novak Djokovic in US Open Opener
But the allegedly intoxicated driver seemed completely unfazed when she got out of her vehicle, Gabriela said.
‘She wasn’t doing much of anything except asking for a lighter for her cigarette,’ the daughter told KTLA. ‘It was just unbelievable.’
Police have not released the identity of the driver but reported that she was arrested for driving under the influence and was facing several felony charges.
Since the crash, Gabriela and the male friend who was at the table have recovered and are out of the hospital. But Cristina is still undergoing physical therapy at a rehabilitation center.
Despite their serious injuries, the mother and daughter say their faith in God has not been shaken and that they are thankful to have survived the crash.
‘In retrospect, now that I think back, I was like, He was protecting us,’ Gabriela told KTLA. ‘Because she’s alive. The injuries that I suffered, they’re not as bad where I can still care for her.’
The daughter said her goal now is to provide the best care possible for her mom ‘until God actually calls her. Because He didn’t call her. It wasn’t her time.’
Cristina said she is thankful to be alive, and her daughter said God was protecting them because she is still able to take care of her mom
According to the family’s GoFundMe, Cristina was left particularly devastated by the loss of her legs because she loved to dance.
‘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 fundraiser page said.