Community rallies to support Bonita Springs crash survivor, after husband and dog are killed

A tragic DUI crash in Bonita Springs left a man and a dog dead and a woman critically injured. An SUV struck Dama and Brandon Klosterman as they walked their dog, Kona, along Pennsylvania Avenue on Saturday night.

Colette Ertel, a close friend of Dama Klosterman, expressed her grief. 

"It's just a tragedy beyond belief. [They were] young. They were in their 30s, and, you know, had a full life ahead of them, and now she's going to have to get through all of this," said Ertel.

• RELATED:Bonita Springs DUI crash kills person and dog; driver faces charges

The close-knit community of Rio Vista Estates, where the Klostermans lived, is reeling from the loss. Milton Collins, a neighbor of the Klostermans, shared the community's sorrow.

"One of my neighbors called me in the middle of the night and told me what happened, and she was just crying her eyes out. I mean, it's everybody. Everybody knew them, everybody liked them. It's a big loss," said Collins.

The driver of the SUV, Ever Alfredo Matias Burgos, was arrested for DUI manslaughter. Despite Dama surviving with serious injuries, her husband and their dog did not.

"It's so senseless, you know, they were out walking their dog. And for me, the horror that keeps replaying in my mind is that she had to witness her husband and her dog being killed," said Ertel.

Adam Feist, a neighbor and witness, recounted the moments after the crash.

"I did see them bring her up out of the woods over here and put her on a stretcher. And she was conscious. She had been talking. I hope she is okay," said Feist.

Dama Klosterman suffered a shattered pelvis and broken bones and is undergoing major surgery.

"If anybody can get through this, it will be Dama, but we need to help her," Ertel said.

Dama, who owns Healing Hands of SWFL, has dedicated her life to helping others through therapeutic massage. Now, the community's hoping their support will help heal her, too.

"I would like for her to be able to focus on healing from this and not having to worry about, How am I going to pay for a funeral? How will I pay my bills? So she's just such a kind, caring person that I know I want to do what I can for her, and I know others who also know her that feel the same way," said Ertel.

Burgos was in court for his first appearance on Monday morning. He remains in the Lee County Jail with a $100,000 bond for the DUI manslaughter charge and $5,000 for two additional DUI counts. He is also on immigration hold and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 20.