Friends, Family Bid Farewell to Pinay Killed in Car Crash
Connie Macatula – De Leon, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
ROSELLE, Illinois – The family of a Filipina-American nursing student killed in a car crash in February said their final goodbyes at services held Monday.
“I love you mom. Have a safe trip. Call me when you get to the Philippines.” This was the last conversation Sheila Salvador had with her 20-year old daughter, Samantha Salvador or Sam, who died in a two-car crash in Indiana last month.
Reports say that the driver of the Honda Civic in which Salvador was a passenger, struck a concrete median while attempting to turn left from northbound I-65 to U.S. 20. The Honda Civic was sent airborne and struck a beige Chevrolet Malibu heading south on I-65.
“Sam, you know that we love you so much. But we know that you love us more. We know that you are in a safe place now, looking over us and telling us how beautiful life is,” her father John, said.
A second-year nursing student in Valparaiso University, Sam only had two goals in life.
“I want to help people and I want to be happy. She did it in her short 20 years here on earth. And I am so happy for her that she fulfilled her mission,” said her father.
One of Sam’s best friends says she was a life coach, a motivator, a people person and she loved to travel.
“She was the one person who really inspired me to be a better person in everything,” said Sarah Kozlowski.
“They have this school trip, to go to China, for about 2 weeks, she was so excited. She said, “Dad, I’m so excited.” She was the last one I spoke with before that happened,” her father added.
Her sister Cassy Salvador also added, “But what better way to travel the world than to look down and see everybody and everything.”
The GoFundMe page launched by Sam’s friends already has over $20,000 in donations, far exceeding its original goal of $4,000.
The funeral service for Sam was attended by her family, relatives, friends and people in the community whom she had touched.
(Source: ABS-CBN.com)