Margarita Novela Galindo, a beloved mother and grandmother, tragically lost her life after a man attempting suicide jumped from a freeway bridge into her car in Los Angeles. The incident occurred on August 9, when Margarita and her husband Florencio were traveling on the 210 Freeway when the man plunged from the Roxford overpass and crashed into their windshield.
Emergency services from the Los Angeles Fire Department were alerted to the scene after receiving reports that a person was threatening to jump off the bridge. Despite the devastating impact, Florencio miraculously escaped serious injuries and immediately called his son, David, in a panic. “Once he told me the ambulances were on the way and he pulled over and couldn’t open the doors, that’s when I knew it was serious,” David said.
Margarita did not die at the scene, but remained in critical condition in the ICU for nearly three weeks before succumbing to her injuries on August 28, according to the report. ABC7 Eyewitness NewsThe family is struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss, with David reflecting on the unfortunate timing of the incident: “What if she had stopped for gas? What if she had stopped for water? This probably wouldn’t have happened.” Her daughter, Stephanie Galindo, added: “It could have been just two seconds later, two inches away, my mom would have been fine.”
Despite the unimaginable loss, the family did not express any resentment towards the man who caused Margarita’s death. Florencio, in a show of compassion, said: “He doesn’t know what problems he might have had to commit suicide, but he doesn’t have any resentment.”
To help cover Margarita’s funeral costs and support the grieving family, a GoFundMe Page A page has been launched which reads: “On August 9th, my parents were driving on the highway when a man, in a desperate attempt to end their lives, jumped off an overpass and crashed into their vehicle. The impact was so strong that it went through the windshield and landed on my mother, leaving her in critical condition.
“She fought bravely for almost three weeks, but on August 28, doctors told us she would not recover. Tragically, my mother passed away, leaving me, my brother, my sister and her seven grandchildren. My father is now alone without the love of his life, he told KTLA.
“It is incredibly unfair that her life was taken away because someone else didn’t want her. My mother was a loving and caring person, and our family is heartbroken and struggling to cope with this unimaginable loss. We have been by her side through this ordeal and are now asking for all the support we can to give her the send-off she deserves.”
Margarita’s family continues to mourn the loss of a woman described as loving and caring, as they try to overcome the pain of such an unforeseen and heartbreaking tragedy. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide Crisis Hotline by dialing 988 or texting “FUERZA” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or by going to 988lifeline.org.