Fundraiser set up for family of mom seriously injured in HWY 1 crash

A fundraiser has been set up for the family of Maria Flores, who was seriously injured in a head-on crash that shut down Highway 1 between Langley and Surrey for hours Monday morning.

Maria, a mother and grandmother, is facing a long road to recovery as she heals from multiple serious injuries.

Maria’s daughter, Betsabe Flores, says her family was informed of the crash shortly after it happened.

“Obviously, I was in shock and everything, and as I came here [to the hospital], obviously, I got to know my mom was alive and well, but her condition was really rough,” she said.

“She ended up suffering pretty serious injuries. She fractured multiple parts of her bone in her arm, and she’s got a broken ankle, broken knee caps as well. So that’s what I found out in the morning.”

Betsabe says her mother will need a minimum of six months to recover.

“She’ll need an occupational therapist to sort of rehabilitate her and get her back to walking,” she said.

“Two out of four of her limbs are pretty gone, too. And her other arm [is] pretty weak as well. She’s really active, like she goes on walks and hikes, and she loves to dance. So even then, it’s going to be pretty difficult for her to get back to her sort of normal state.”

Maria is a widow, Betsabe says, and many people depend on her financially.

“My dad passed away back in 2009, so ever since then, she’s been taking care of me and my three siblings that are her personal children, but also my other siblings from my dad as well. She helped raise them and support them,” she said.

“She’s a grandma as well…and we have another baby on the way — my oldest brother’s expecting in February. So we have more coming to the family.”

Maria works multiple jobs, and Betsabe says the loss of her income will hit the family pretty hard. The fundraiser was started to help cover costs — such as transportation to appointments, caregiving support, and essential bills — while her insurance claim is being processed.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign has raised just over $4,000 of its $6,500 goal.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so on the campaign page.

Tragically, another person who was involved in the crash did not survive.

— With files from Ben Bouguerra