Eduardo Villalpando never anticipated that his time as a crossing guard for his son’s school in Lakewood would end with such a tragic incident. After three years of ensuring the safety of students, a car accident left him with a life-altering injury, resulting in the partial loss of his leg.
“I have vivid memories of that moment when I felt weightless, as if I was floating or flying through the air, completely out of control of my own body. The next thing I knew, I woke up on the ground, just a split second later,” shared Eduardo Villalpando, as he recalled the incident from his hospital bed during an interview with NBC4.
The car wash’s surveillance footage captured the exact moment when a Dodge Charger collided with an SUV at the intersection of Pioneer and Centralia Streets. The force of the impact propelled the Dodge onto the curb, directly into Villalpando. Tragically, he was standing on the sidewalk, wrapping up his Friday shift on December 1st.
“I was hit so hard that I was propelled through the retainer wall of the car wash. I flew approximately 20 feet and landed in the narrow space between a car and a car wash vacuum,” recounted Villalpando.
In the video, the employees of Superfine Auto Spa car wash quickly responded to the commotion. One employee named Victor swiftly grabbed a belt and skillfully applied a tourniquet to Villalpando’s leg, while another employee offered him comfort and support.
Villalpando expressed that waiting for the paramedics to arrive was what saved his life.
“We don’t consider ourselves heroes; it was simply the right thing to do,” expressed Nabeel Karadsheh, owner of the car wash. “Everyone acted swiftly and played their part.”
After Villalpando was taken away in an ambulance, the car wash team turned their attention to his parents, who had arrived at the scene in a state of worry and uncertainty about their son’s condition. In a heartwarming display of compassion, one employee assisted Villalpando’s mother while another employee made sure his father had a chair to sit on.
After her son’s life was saved, Maria Villalpando expressed her gratitude, stating, “I can’t repay that with anything.” In order to express her appreciation, she brought lunch to the staff a week later.
Villalpando suffered the loss of his left leg in the accident. Medical professionals have assured him that he will regain his ability to walk by using a prosthetic leg.
“I lost my left leg, but luckily they were able to save my right leg by inserting pins and screws,” he explained.
The community is providing invaluable support, according to his wife.
A crowdfunding campaign has been established to assist the family in covering their medical bills, and it has already surpassed $10,000 in donations.
Maria expressed her gratitude to all the supporters and emphasized the blessing of having him here with them. She cherished the opportunity to spend Christmas and other holidays together.
Just before the crash happened, Villalpando mentioned that he had safely guided his last group of children across the street. He couldn’t help but feel grateful for their safety.
“I actually know a few of those kids because they’re in the same class as my son. So, if something like this had to happen, I’m glad it happened to me,” he shared.
According to Villalpando and the car wash employees, the intersection at Pioneer and Centralia poses a significant risk due to reckless driving and distractions.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating the crash to establish whether either driver was speeding. However, no arrests have been made at this time. It is worth noting that all parties involved in the accident are cooperating with the department’s investigation.
The LASD stated that they plan to enhance safety measures at the intersection by increasing patrols and implementing stricter traffic enforcement. However, they mentioned the need to collaborate with the city for any additional changes to be made.
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