YOUNGTOWN, AZ — A good Samaritan has died days after being struck by a car in the West Valley while attempting to help a crash victim.
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office officials say deputies were called to the area of 111th and Grand avenues around 10 p.m. Sunday for reports of a woman who was struck by a vehicle.
The vehicle that struck the woman reportedly left the scene, and a witness, another woman, stopped to help.
While the witness was attempting to render aid to the victim, she was also struck by a passing vehicle.
Deputies say both women suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
MCSO confirmed Thursday that the woman who was struck while helping the initial victim died from her injuries at a hospital.
She has been identified as Celena Vega.
Vega’s family tells ABC15 that Celena always wanted to help others, even if she didn’t know them. And that’s what she did up until her last moments.
“She did everything for anybody. Anybody. If somebody needed something, she was right there to help. No questions asked. She just was such a beautiful light and it's so sad that we don't get to experience that anymore,” said Vanessa Vega, one of Celena’s sisters.
Celena will continue to help people even after her passing. Her family said she was an organ donor.
“[They came over and said Celena’s going to be able to save eight lives. I’m like wow. So after being gone, she's still going to be saving lives. I’m going to be proud of my hero. She was a hero,” Celena’s mom, Bertha, said.
The driver who struck Vega remained on scene and was not impaired. The investigation is ongoing.
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help raise money for a funeral as well as to help her three young children.
