SAN ANTONIO – More than a month has passed since a local restaurant manager was hit by a car while bicycling home from work. On Sunday, the community stepped up to help the victim, Samantha Flores, with her mounting medical bills.
Chef Michael Sohocki of Restaurant Gwendolyn rounded up some of the city's other premier chefs and organized a benefit brunch for Flores with the help of Culinaria. The brunch was held at GRILLE 254 at La Cantera Resort & Spa.
Flores, who suffered three broken ribs, spinal and spleen ruptures, a punctured lung and a laceration to her liver, showed up to the fundraiser wheelchair bound with braces and casts, but still in high spirits, thankful for everyone who had turned out to help.
"It feels like that person left my body in the street and the whole city rallied and cried, 'Hell no,'" she said. "Everybody is here and it just blows my mind. I don't know any of these people. I just run a restaurant."
She said she was blown away by the number of people who attended the fundraiser. Sohocki was joined by renowned chefs Jason Dady, Johnny Hernandez, Giovanni Sliva and Andrew Weissman.
Proceeds from the event will go toward Flores' medical bills as she recovers from the hit-and-run crash.
The life changing moment was caught on surveillance video, but authorities have not yet caught the driver. She said Sunday the collision didn't feel like an accident.
"It felt intentional, and I guess I can say that now, because, hey, they didn't step forward to defend themselves, so screw them," she said.
Flores dislocated her knee and arm and suffered a shattered ankle in the incident.
Because of her injuries, she said doctors told her it would be a year before she will be able to get back on a bike, but she said she won't let the incident stop her.
