Puebloans fundraise for mother and child’s recovery after hit-and-run crash

Residents in Pueblo gathered Sunday to support a benefit dinner for a mother and her child's recovery after a severe hit-and-run crash. People dropped by "Brass Saddle" to buy food and bid during auctions.

Adriana Lagunas and her six-year-old son Jake, suffered life-threatening injuries on Jan. 6 when a pickup truck, driving in the wrong lane, slammed into her vehicle head-on.

Both victims were transported to hospitals in Denver and Colorado Springs and have since been released. However, the pair face a long strenuous recovery.

"I am so happy they're both alive and well," said Mary Martinez, the stepsister of Lagunas. "I pray that they both recover quickly since I know it's going to be a long road."

Jake Benavidez, the father of the six-year-old, says he's amazed by the support and turnout from his fellow neighbors in Pueblo.

"It's a lot of love and it's real touching to the heart for everybody to come out like this in the community and support my son," Benavidez said. "It's an amazing thing."

The venue's parking lot was filled with cars between 1 and 9 p.m. as people arrived to support the young mother and her child.

Dozens of friends and family members were at the event, but so were people who had heard about the crash and wanted to help.

"Well everybody in Pueblo is connected," said Rick Kilpatrick, who learned about the fundraiser on the news. "And it's always nice to come out and help somebody else. You never know when it's going to be your turn."