Tragedy to Triumph: Santa Barbara Mother Speaks Out Years after Losing Fiancé in Triple Fatal Crash
Patricia Martellotti
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – It was a tragedy that changed a Santa Barbara woman’s life forever.
A traffic accident killed her fiance and landed her in the hospital.
It happened on August 9th 2016, when Leslie Salazar was a passenger in a car driving through the Santa Barbara Mesa.
“I was in the car with my fiancée. The car was speeding. I jumped out of the vehicle,” said Salazar.
20 minutes later, her fiancée who was driving under the influence crashed into a power pole, at more than 90 miles an hour killing all three people in the car.
An organization that Salazar was already involved with was there for her during this difficult time.
Santa Barbara based Mothers’ Helpers focuses on helping mothers in need with essential items for children.
“People are having trouble just making rent and food for their families … let alone baby essentials that can cost $2500 in the first six months for your baby … if you want a bassinet for them if you want blankets clothing, diapers those are all really big expenses,” said executive director Michelle Erickson of Mothers’ Helpers.
“Feeling inadequate as a mother … just being another stereotype … It’s hard,” said Salazar.
But she didn’t give up.
Salazar worked closely with Mothers’ Helpers.
She received a car seat, shoes and clothes for her baby.
But more importantly, a sense of hope.
“Leaving the trauma behind … giving mom‘s hope that you can overcome anything between addiction, jails, hospitals … you can overcome it,” said Salazar.
Now, side by side with her 8-year old daughter Genisys, Salazar volunteers for the nonprofit that helped rebuild her shattered life.
“I like to volunteer here because I get to help other children. It helps other families that they don’t have diapers. They don’t have cribs. They don’t have anything, and we can help them by giving it to them,” said Flores.
While Salazar stays busy at Mothers’ Helpers she’s hoping more people will volunteer to help mothers in need.
Today, Salazar no longer considers herself a victim.
Now she’s an advocate for other mothers in need.
And she has a message for them.
“It’s okay … to ask for help,” said Salazar.
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