Elderly Woman Loses Both Legs After SUV Plows into Restaurant Diners

An 81-year-old California mother is facing a life-changing recovery after an allegedly impaired driver plowed an SUV into an outdoor restaurant dining area, leaving her so badly injured that doctors were forced to amputate both of her legs.

Cristina Vargas was enjoying a meal with her daughter, Gabriela, and a male friend outside Los Cinco Puntos in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood on July 7 when the terrifying crash unfolded.

Surveillance footage captured the SUV heading toward the restaurant before suddenly veering onto the sidewalk and barreling directly toward the outdoor tables.

Seconds later, the vehicle slammed into the group.

Video from the scene shows the table exploding into debris as the SUV crashes through the dining area. Screeching tires can be heard moments before impact.

Gabriela said she barely had time to process what was happening.

“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.

Then everything happened at once.

“The next thing I knew, I was airborne,” Gabriela recalled.

Cristina was pinned beneath the SUV following the violent impact.

Emergency crews rushed all three diners to the hospital.

Gabriela suffered a head injury and a deep cut to her knee, while the male friend was also hurt. Both have since recovered.

Cristina’s injuries, however, were catastrophic.

The 81-year-old underwent three surgeries, but doctors ultimately had to amputate both of her legs.

Police determined the female SUV driver was allegedly impaired at the time of the crash. She was arrested and charged with multiple felonies.

Now, weeks after the collision, Cristina is undergoing physical rehabilitation and preparing for an entirely different life.

Loved ones say she had been an active, outgoing woman who loved dancing and regularly attended events at a local senior center before the crash.

Her family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover mounting medical bills, rehabilitation expenses and major modifications needed to make her home accessible.

The fundraiser had collected roughly $27,000 toward a $50,000 goal as of Sunday morning.

Despite the devastating injuries and painful rehabilitation, Cristina’s family says she remains determined.

“Thank you everybody for your love and support. We greatly appreciate it,” the family wrote in an Aug. 17 update. “It’s a slow recovery but day by day we’re getting through it.”

They added that Cristina continues to push herself despite the pain.

“Recovery is very painful but she’s giving it her all.”

The crash has transformed what was supposed to be an ordinary meal with family into a nightmare that will affect Cristina for the rest of her life.