A single mother who friends lauded as selfless and caring died after being hit by a vehicle in Burlingame earlier this month.
Authorities had not publicly released the pedestrian’s identity as of Thursday, but friends confirmed that she was Yolanda Villar, a single mother. Loved ones said that her life was centered on caring for others, especially her special needs daughter.
“Yolanda was one of the most selfless people I’ve ever known,” said Arli Torres, a close family friend who considered Villar her aunt. “Her life revolved around caring for others, especially her daughter Stephanie, who has special needs. She was a single mother and an incredible advocate for Stephanie, always ensuring she had the best care.”
Friends of Villar have launched a GoFundMe to raise money for her daughter, who will be cared for by Villar’s sister. The fundraiser had raised more than $53,000 of its $100,000 goal as of Thursday morning.
Villar worked as a nanny and loved kids, Torres said, adding that she found joy in going to the movies and dancing cumbia. She loved getting her nails done with Stephanie and taking her to birthday parties.
Yolanda Villar, seen in an undated photo, died after being hit by a vehicle while crossing the street on Sept. 12. (Arli Torres)
“No matter what time it was, even at 2 or 3 in the morning, she was there to help anyone who needed her, without hesitation,” Torres said.
Torres added that Villar’s “ability to speak her mind” inspired her to speak up about Villar’s life to ensure that her memory is honored.
Authorities received a report that a car hit a pedestrian at 6:22 p.m. Sept. 12 in the area of Delaware Street and Peninsula Avenue, on the edge of the city’s border with San Mateo, Burlingame police Sgt. Jason Roberts said in a statement. A preliminary investigation found that the vehicle struck the pedestrian while making a left turn from northbound Delaware Street onto Peninsula Avenue.
Torres said that Villar was crossing the street on the way to view an apartment for Torres’s brother at the time of the crash. She was on the phone with Torres’s mother, who was running late to the viewing, and planned to convince the person showing the apartment to wait.
“Yolanda was being her selfless self, as always,” Torres said. “She was optimistic that this could be the perfect place for my brother.”
Through the phone, Torres’s mother heard a “loud bang” and “people calling for help,” Torres said.
“Yolanda didn’t even get the chance to scream or move out of the way — her back was turned to the car,” she added.
Related Articles
Bicyclist killed in collision with driver in Campbell
Authorities identify teen killed in I-580 crash
‘Doctor’s report’ still pending for Bay Area woman accused of killing cop during DUI crash
Bay Area woman fatally struck after falling out of truck doing donuts
3 dead following 4-vehicle collision on California freeway
A fire engine arrived shortly after and attempted life-saving measures before the pedestrian was transported to a local trauma hospital, Roberts said. The person died as a result of injuries caused by the collision.
The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, Roberts said; he added that drugs or alcohol were not believed to be factors in the crash. The incident remains under investigation by BPD and the San Mateo Police Department.
“We are heartbroken, and while we mourn her loss, we also want to address the serious safety concerns at the intersection where she was hit,” Torres said. “There have been issues in that area for a long time, and unfortunately, it took this tragedy for attention to be drawn to it. We hope this serves as a wake-up call for the city to improve safety measures before more lives are lost.”