An 81-year-old Los Angeles woman lost both of her legs below the knee after a driver allegedly plowed into an outdoor restaurant seating area while she was having lunch with her daughter and a friend.
The devastating crash happened on July 7 outside Los Cinco Puntos restaurant in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, according to local reports.
Cristina Vargas, 81, was sitting at a table with her adult daughter, Gabriela Vargas, and a male friend when a white SUV suddenly jumped the curb and slammed into them.
Gabriela said the horrifying moment unfolded in seconds.
“I remember I just heard screeching, and I was lifting up my head and I just saw headlights and a bumper and I heard a big boom,” she told KTLA.
“The next thing I knew, I was airborne.”
Gabriela suffered a head injury and a deep cut to her knee.
Her mother was hurt far more severely and became trapped underneath the SUV.
Cristina, Gabriela and their friend were all rushed to the hospital.
Cristina underwent three surgeries because of the injuries she suffered in the crash. Doctors ultimately had to amputate both of her legs below the knee.
The Los Angeles Police Department identified the driver as 23-year-old Sapphire Acosta.
Acosta was arrested after the crash and later charged with two felony counts of driving under the influence causing injury, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.
Prosecutors also filed special allegations claiming that multiple victims were injured and that an elderly victim suffered great bodily injury.
Acosta has pleaded not guilty.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15.
An attorney for Acosta declined to comment on the case.
Cristina remains hospitalized as she continues recovering and begins adjusting to a dramatically different life.
Gabriela has reportedly been visiting her mother every day and plans to care for her after she is eventually released from the hospital.
“The most traumatic and tragic thing for me [is that] she lost her legs,” Gabriela told CBS LA. “And that her life is gonna change from here going forward.”
Friends say the loss has been especially difficult because Cristina had always lived such an active and social life.
A verified GoFundMe created for the Vargas family describes her as someone who has “always been a vibrant and social person with a true lust for life.”
“She loved to dance and was a regular at events at the senior center, bringing joy and energy wherever she went,” organizer Yolie Ascencio wrote.
“This sudden change is especially heartbreaking for someone who has always embraced life so fully and actively.”
The fundraiser says the family is now facing major medical bills, rehabilitation costs and everyday expenses.
Cristina is also expected to need extensive support as she adjusts to her disability, including home modifications and 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 states.
For Cristina and her family, what began as a normal lunch outing turned into a life-changing tragedy in a matter of seconds.
