A beloved woman in the Big Bear Mountain community was hit by a car and died last week while reportedly helping someone who was stuck in the snow during the region’s historic winter storm, according to her family.
Barbara Hughes, 39, known as “Barbie,” was struck by a car Feb. 25 on an off-road trail just northwest of Big Bear, according to a Facebook post by her sister, Sarah Hughes.
“I knew I’d have to post this one day,” Hughes wrote. “But I thought it would be many years from now.”
Details of the incident remain unclear. Attempts to reach authorities for clarification were unsuccessful.
According to her sister’s Facebook post, Barbie was alive when 911 was called and still conscious after she was transported to a local hospital.
“The escorting officer confirmed she got out of the car and into the wheelchair on her own power [we think this was from shock],” Hughes wrote.
After doctors ran CT scans and X-rays, they learned she had suffered a punctured lung and heart due to broken bones from the collision. They intubated her to alleviate discomfort but informed the family Feb. 26 she had died while under sedation, according to the Facebook post.
“We are all grieving for the loss of this beautiful soul that made us laugh, cry, and have full tummies with her exceptional cooking,” Hughes said.
Hughes told The Epoch Times in a statement March 6 that the California Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation into the incident and did not provide further information.
She did say her family is “blown away with the condolences, comments, stories, and pictures coming in from our community as well as across the country.”
“We had no idea the impact she had on everyone she met,” she wrote.
Hughes organized a GoFundMe page last week to raise money for funeral expenses and raised almost double her $12,000 goal, reaching just over $21,000 as of March 6.
The funeral will most likely be at the end of March, her sister indicated on the GoFundMe page.
“She was taken from us too young and we'd like to have as many people join us in celebrating her life as we are able,” Hughes wrote on the campaign page.
Love from grieving neighbors and family members poured out on Facebook throughout the week.
“She was such a beautiful soul. I’m just shocked but not shocked that she was out there helping someone ... she will certainly be missed,” Jessica Williams Fearing wrote in the Facebook post.
Barbie’s aunt, Deborah Alfonso, wrote that her family is “devastated to the depths of our hearts.”
Barbie worked at DIY Big Bear, a home improvement store, and was recognized as a friendly and affable individual who earned the admiration of customers.
“That’s the thing about a small town—the familiar faces—she called me ‘hun’ every time I came in,” wrote Jon Taylor on Facebook last week. “She was a bright spot on my daily trudge. I am sad and will miss her light. God loves you Barbie! I will miss you.”
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department did not respond to requests for comment by the press deadline.
