Grandmother dies after man 'jumps' off highway overpass and lands on her car
Topics: California, GoFundMe, Mental Health, US News, Health
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe/ YouTube/ABC7
Topics: California, GoFundMe, Mental Health, US News, Health
Warning: This article contains discussion of a suspected attempted suicide which some readers may find distressing.
A grandmother's family have spoken out after she passed away from injuries obtained after a man jumped off an overpass and landed on her car.
On August 9 at around 7:00pm, Margarita Novela Galindo and her husband, Florencio Galindo, were driving along the 210 Freeway in Sylmar, California when a man allegedly jumped off the freeway overpass and went through the car.
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Los Angeles Fire Department had received reports of a man allegedly saying he was going to end his own life by jumping from Roxford Street overpass, New York Post reports.
When the man 'struck' the vehicle, Margarita's family reports the impact was 'so severe' he 'crashed through the windscreen' and landed on Margarita.
Margarita's son, David Galindo, told KTLA 5 as soon as the man landed on the car, Florencio pulled the vehicle 'over into the shoulder so he could get the guy off' her.
Florencio - who was not seriously injured - then immediately called David and let him know ambulances were on their way but that he couldn't open the doors to get to his wife, David then realizing the situation was very 'serious,' he told ABC 7 Chicago.
Devastatingly, Margarita was left in 'critical condition' and while the 59-year-old 'fought bravely for nearly three weeks,' on August 28 doctors told Margarita's family 'she wouldn't recover'.
A GoFundMe started by one of Margarita's children reads: "Tragically, my mom passed away, leaving behind me, my brother, my sister, and her seven grandchildren. My dad is now alone without the love of his life. It's incredibly unfair that her life was taken because someone else didn't want theirs.
"My mom was a loving and caring person, and our family is heartbroken and struggling to cope with this unimaginable loss. We’ve been by her side throughout this ordeal, and now we're asking for any support to help us give her the farewell she deserves."
Margarita's daughter Stephanie Galindo said: "I’m just sad and a little angry that was her destiny, her end.
"[...] She goes out for a trip and then she just never comes back. And that’s my anger. That we never said ‘Bye.'"
However, the family don't hold any bad feelings towards the man who allegedly jumped off the overpass.
Translating her father's Spanish, Stephanie resolved: "He doesn't know what problems he may have had to [end his life], but he doesn't have any resentment."
UNILAD has contacted the Los Angeles Fire Department and San Fernando Police Department for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741