A woman from Southern California had a terrifying experience during what was supposed to be a peaceful beach getaway in Mexico with her dog, Ellie.
Cassandra Wright, a life coach based in San Diego, recently shared her dramatic story about an incident that happened in Tijuana about a month ago while she was driving back from Rosarito.
“I could see one bullet enter through the driver’s window, travel through my car, and exit out the passenger side,” she recounted.
“The second bullet struck my lower leg, breaking both my tibia and fibula before exiting and hitting my ankle.”
“After that, I was thrown from the car onto the street… I could feel I was losing blood fast.”
She noted that, somehow, adrenaline kept her focused—she looked back to see her pup’s face peering at her from the backseat.
“I tried to reach her but collapsed upon realizing my leg was shattered—it was too painful to walk,” she explained.
“Thankfully, I kept calling her name, and she jumped out the window to come to me.”
Wright recalled how two women rushed to assist her. One of them applied a tourniquet to stem the bleeding until help arrived.
She was ultimately transported from a Tijuana emergency room to a hospital in San Diego, where she underwent multiple surgeries, with “metal plates, rods, and screws” inserted into her leg.
The path to recovery is expected to be lengthy, requiring months of physical therapy as she works to regain her ability to walk.
“It’s incredibly difficult to lose the ability to do the job you love,” she said, expressing that while she has often aided others through their challenges, she never imagined she would find herself needing support.
Despite the ordeal, her nearly 2-year-old dog has been a source of comfort throughout. “She stayed with me in the ambulance, and was there during emergency surgeries, helping me through my toughest moments,” Wright shared.
The staff at the hospital noted her dog’s calming presence, encouraging Wright to consider training her as a therapy dog for future giving back.
Wright also mentioned the financial strain from the incident, citing high medical expenses, an inability to work, legal costs, and rehabilitation needs.
Authorities in San Diego have been contacted by relevant outlets for further details.
