Tragedy Strikes Near Elementary School
A 69-year-old California grandmother and cancer survivor was tragically killed when a garbage truck struck and decapitated her while she was crossing the street near an elementary school in Santa Ana.
Maria Rubalcava de Ruesga was walking to the grocery store just a block from her home when the horrific incident occurred at approximately 8am on November 19.
The collision took place as the refuse vehicle was turning right at a roundabout adjacent to Pio Pico Elementary School, where parents were simultaneously dropping off their children for the day.
Horrific Scene Witnessed by Parents
According to Santa Ana Police Department reports, multiple witnesses saw the grandmother being 'crushed under the tires' of the large commercial vehicle.
One witness described the scene to Fox11 as particularly gruesome, stating: 'It was bad. Her body was horrible. Her brains were all over the place.'
The impact left the pensioner's head 'completely destroyed', and emergency services pronounced her dead at the scene.
In response to the traumatic event, Pio Pico Elementary School immediately offered counselling support to students and parents who witnessed the aftermath.
Some families reportedly kept their children indoors long after the crash to shield them from the distressing scene.
Community Concerns and Investigation
Local residents have expressed significant concerns about the safety of the intersection, claiming that accidents have been consistent since the city installed the roundabout last year.
Neighbours described the area as 'dangerous', raising questions about infrastructure planning and pedestrian safety measures near school zones.
The driver of the garbage truck remained at the location following the collision and has been cooperating with authorities, according to an official statement from the Santa Ana Police Department.
The truck was towed from the scene and the cause of the fatal crash remains under active investigation.
The tragedy has been particularly devastating for Rubalcava's family, who revealed that she had recently won a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer and had been in remission for approximately one year.
Loved ones shared that she was 'just beginning to feel like herself again' after her health struggles.
In a tribute on a GoFundMe page established to cover funeral expenses, family members described Rubalcava as 'loving, caring, and strong'.
They wrote: 'Losing her so suddenly has left us in complete shock. She leaves behind a heavy void in our hearts that can never be filled.'
The grandmother leaves behind eight grandchildren, who family members say miss her 'more than words can express'.
Daily Mail has contacted Rubalcava's family, the Santa Ana Police Department, and the city of Santa Ana for additional comment regarding the ongoing investigation and community safety concerns.
