LOS ANGELES, Calif. — An ordinary lunch with her daughter turned into a life-changing nightmare for 81-year-old Cristina Vargas, whose life was forever altered when a vehicle crashed into her outside a Boyle Heights restaurant.
Cristina was eating lunch with her daughter, Gabriela Vargas, at Los Cinco Puntos Mexican Deli on July 7 when a vehicle suddenly veered onto the sidewalk.
Surveillance video obtained showed three people eating outside the restaurant when the vehicle moved toward them shortly after 3 p.m. With little warning, those sitting outside had almost no time to escape its path.
Cristina suffered catastrophic injuries in the collision. Her injuries ultimately led to the amputation of both legs, leaving the once-active California mother facing an entirely different way of life.
Authorities suspect the driver was intoxicated, although the circumstances surrounding the crash remain part of the investigation.
Daughter Remembers the Moment Everything Changed
Gabriela was sitting with her mother when she saw the vehicle coming toward them.
“All of a sudden I just remember seeing headlights and a car coming towards us and it just pinned my mom underneath the car,” Gabriela told CBS.
The collision also left Gabriela injured. She needed staples for a cut to her head and suffered an injury to her leg that continues to affect the way she moves.
But Cristina’s injuries were far more devastating.
The 81-year-old now faces months of physical and emotional adjustment as she learns how to navigate everyday life after losing both legs.
For Gabriela, watching her mother go through that transformation has been one of the hardest parts of the ordeal.
Once-Active Mom Now Faces Difficult Recovery
Before the crash, Cristina was known as an active woman who enjoyed the things that brought her happiness.
She loved dancing, attending church, playing bingo and spending time with her family. Those everyday activities were an important part of her life before the July collision suddenly changed everything.
Months after the crash, Cristina continues to deal with pain from the amputations while adapting to her new circumstances.
Gabriela remains beside her mother throughout the recovery.
“You’re my best friend. I’m going to get you a cool little electric car and you’re going to be hauling, and your hair is going to be flying in the wind,” Gabriela told her mother.
The lighthearted promise reflects Gabriela’s effort to keep her mother looking forward despite the enormous challenges ahead.
Daughter Struggles With How Much Her Mother’s Life Has Changed
For Gabriela, the physical injuries are only part of the trauma.
She said the most painful realization is knowing that her mother’s life will never be the same following the collision.
“The most traumatic and saddest thing for me is that I get that the accident happened, but she lost her legs and that sometimes really tears at my heart the fact that her life is going to change from here going forward,” Gabriela said.
That reality has made the recovery particularly emotional for both mother and daughter.
Cristina is not only recovering physically but also learning how to adapt to a future that looks completely different from the one she expected.
Family Finds Strength in Support From Community
Despite the pain, Gabriela said the support surrounding her family has helped her remain strong.
Messages of encouragement, prayers and well wishes from people around them have given the family something to hold onto during the difficult recovery.
That support has also helped Gabriela continue encouraging her mother when the physical and emotional challenges become overwhelming.
For now, the family is focused on Cristina’s recovery and helping her regain as much independence as possible.
The 81-year-old who once spent her days dancing, going to church, playing bingo and enjoying time with loved ones is now learning how to build a new routine after a devastating crash.
Her daughter remains at her side, determined to remind her that although the accident changed Cristina’s life, it does not have to take away her hope for the future.
What do you think about Cristina and Gabriela’s strength during this difficult recovery? Share your thoughts and send your best wishes to the family in the comments.
