'Super Nice Strangers' Helped Family Hit By Alleged Drunk Driver
DENVER (CBS4) - It's been 10 days since an alleged drunk driver hit a minivan carrying a family of four, derailing their plans for a surprise vacation.
"It all happened so fast," Ryan Bragazzi, driver of the minivan, told CBS4's Kelly Werthmann. "The next thing I remember; the firefighters were there."
Bragazzi doesn't remember much from the crash that happened in the early morning hours of July 21, but does recall the firefighters who rescued him from the van.
"There was one sitting next to me and he actually held my head up as the other ones were prying the door open," he said.
Bragazzi's fiancé, Jessica Salazar, was in the front passenger seat and her two young daughters in back. They were able to safely escape from the mangled van with the help of the driver of the semi they crashed under.
"Me and the FedEx driver were able to get the kids out," Salazar said. "There were some super nice strangers that came and were helping hold the girls. It was 2:30 in the morning, so they were in their pajamas. They didn't have their tennis shoes on or anything."
Using FaceTime, CBS4 spoke with the family now recovering from their serious injuries at home in Pueblo. Bragazzi has eight broken ribs, three broken vertebrae and a laceration on his back. Salazar suffered a concussion and has 20 staples in her head as well as a fractured elbow. Thankfully 7-year-old Graeyln and 5-year-old Abriella are okay.
"They definitely have bumps and bruises, but they both are doing great," Salazar said.
The family was on their way to Denver's airport to surprise the girls with a trip to Disney World when the crash happened. Instead, they are now facing mounting medical bills. Yet with the help of a GoFundMe account set up by Salazar's sister, strangers from around the country are pitching in to help. Already nearly $16,000 has been raised.
"We're just so thankful," Salazar said. "We are very fortunate and blessed"
It will be a long road to recovery for the family, but Bragazzi said he still hopes to take the girls on a magical vacation.
"I definitely don't want to deprive them of that trip," he said.
As for the driver who hit them, Colorado State Patrol said he suffered minor injuries and has yet to be arrested. Bragazzi and Salazar both said they're glad he is okay, but hope his actions serve as a reminder to never drink and drive.
"I just hope that he thinks or anybody who thinks that they're okay to drive to just really take a second look and calls a cab or gets somebody to drive them because it's not worth anybody's life," Salazar said.
If you would like to help the family as they continue their recovery, visit the GoFundMe page.
Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now anchors CBS4 Weekend Morning News and reports during the week. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.
