California mother, 86, dies after rushing into traffic to save pet

An 86-year-old California mother of seven was hit and killed on the street after sprinting into traffic to save her injured dog.

Mary Wear was fatally hit by a car in Apple Valley in the Inland Empire while helping her injured dog when a 70-year-old woman ran her over Friday night.

Wear –– who was also known as “Meeka” –– was struck at around 8:15 p.m. on Waalew Road while attempting to save her pet dog Benji, who had just been hit by another vehicle.

“Meeka was a beloved mother of seven children, grandmother of four, and great-grandmother of nine. She was the heart of her family, a treasured friend to many, and a woman whose warmth, kindness, and love touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her,” a GoFundMe created on her behalf said.

“Even at 86 years young, Meeka continued to embrace life with enthusiasm and a wonderful sense of purpose. Most recently, she had been helping her daughter and granddaughter bring a special dream to life through the opening of the Buc N Doe Restaurant in Fawnskin,” the fundraiser continued.

The GoFundMe was created to help create a “beautiful and lasting” memorial for Meeka and her two sons who died before her. The 86-year-old grandmother had already made arrangements for her own cremation.

The driver who hit the grandmother remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the incident according to KTLA 5.

Prior to her death, Meeka had told her daughter to “cremate me and spread my ashes at the Buc N Doe” when she died.

The GoFundMe has raised over $1,000 of its $1,500 as of Monday evening.

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