Woman loses both legs after car crashes into Los Angeles restaurant during lunch
An 81-year-old woman required the amputation of both legs after a vehicle driven by a suspected intoxicated driver crashed into her while she was dining at a Los Angeles restaurant on July 7.
Cristina Vargas was having lunch with her daughter Gabriela Vargas and a friend at Los Cinco Puntos, a restaurant that has served the Eastside community for decades near the border of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles. The restaurant sits at the intersection of Lorena Street and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, a complex five-point intersection that divides the two neighborhoods.
At approximately 3:20 p.m., the three had just sat down and were saying grace when a white SUV came barreling down the street and slammed into their table at high speed.
I was lifting up my head and I just saw headlights and a bumper and I heard a big boom.
Gabriela told local media.
Surveillance footage captured the moment of impact, showing the vehicle run over the table before crashing into the restaurant wall. All three diners suffered injuries and were transported to hospital along with the driver.
Devastating injuries and multiple surgeries
Cristina sustained the most severe injuries, with her legs described as "just shredded" after becoming pinned beneath the vehicle. She screamed "My legs! My legs!" in Spanish as she lay trapped under the car.
After undergoing three surgeries, doctors determined that amputation was necessary. Cristina remains in a rehabilitation center undergoing physical therapy.
Her daughter Gabriela suffered a head injury and a deep laceration on her knee but has since recovered. Their friend has also been released from hospital.
The loss of her legs has been particularly devastating for Cristina, who loved to dance. According to a family GoFundMe page raising money for medical expenses, her "vivacious spirit and love for connecting with others made her a beloved member of the community."
Driver arrested on suspicion of felony DUI
The driver, identified by LAPD Officer David Cuellar as 33-year-old Sapphire Marie Acosta, was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and is facing several felony charges.
Gabriela said the driver appeared unaffected by the crash when she exited her vehicle.
She wasn't doing much of anything except asking for a lighter for her cigarette. It was just unbelievable.
Gabriela recalled.
Under California Vehicle Code 23153, DUI causing injury can be charged as a felony carrying penalties of two to four years in jail and fines up to $10,000.
Part of a broader safety crisis
The incident highlights a widespread problem across the United States. According to the Storefront Safety Council, vehicle crashes into storefronts and outdoor dining areas occur more than 100 times per day nationwide, with the organization documenting over 24,000 such incidents. These crashes result in over 3,600 serious injuries and more than 500 deaths annually.
In Los Angeles County specifically, traffic fatalities remain a persistent concern. The county recorded 744 traffic deaths in 2024, with approximately 78 people killed in crashes involving DUI or drug use in 2025, according to California's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.
In response to the growing risk to outdoor diners, California passed legislation enabling insurance companies to offer premium discounts to commercial property owners who install safety barriers to protect outdoor dining areas from vehicle crashes.
Faith sustains family through tragedy
Despite the traumatic injuries, both Cristina and Gabriela say their faith remains strong and they are grateful to have survived.
In retrospect, now that I think back, I was like, He was protecting us. Because she's alive. The injuries that I suffered, they're not as bad where I can still care for her.
Gabriela said.
Gabriela's focus now is providing the best possible care for her mother "until God actually calls her. Because He didn't call her. It wasn't her time."
