Margarita Novela Galindo died from injuries sustained after the jumper crashed through the car windshield and landed on her
An unthinkable tragedy has claimed the life of a wife, mother and grandmother, who died from injuries she sustained when a man jumped off a California freeway and landed on her car.
Around 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, Margarita Novela Galindo, 59, was a passenger in the vehicle driven by her husband Florencio Galindo on the 210 Freeway in Sylmar, Calif.
That’s when a man allegedly attempting to take his life jumped off the freeway overpass, crashed through the windshield and landed on Margarita, according to local affiliates KTLA and KABC.
Florencio, who did not sustain any serious injuries, immediately called his son, David Galindo. “Once he told me ambulances were on the way and he pulled over to the side and couldn’t open the doors, that’s when I knew it was serious,” David told KABC.
Margarita was rushed to intensive care and remained in critical condition for weeks. She died on Wednesday, Aug. 28, after her family was told by medical officials “that she wouldn’t recover,” according to a GoFundMe set up for Margarita’s funeral expenses.
The mother of three and grandmother of seven was described in the GoFundMe as “a loving and caring person.” The family said they are “heartbroken and struggling to cope with this unimaginable loss.”
“The way it all happened, it just wasn’t fair,” David told KTLA.
Margarita’s daughter Stephanie Galindo pondered how different circumstances could have prevented her mother’s death. “It could’ve just been two seconds off, two inches away, my mom would’ve been fine,” she told KABC.
Fighting back tears, Florencio told the outlet that he doesn’t hold ill feelings towards the jumper, who died in addition to Margarita. The identity of the man has not been released.
“He doesn’t know what problems he may have had to commit suicide, but he doesn’t have any resentment,” Stephanie said, translating her father’s words from Spanish.
Currently, the GoFundMe has raised over $23,000 of its $25,000 goal.
