Great-Grandmother Fatally Struck While Helping Injured Dog

An 86-year-old great-grandmother died in Apple Valley, California, on October 9, after rushing to the aid of her dog, which had been struck by a car.

Mary Lu 'Meeka' Wear was in the roadway on Waalew Road, west of Dale Evans Parkway, attempting to assist her injured pet when she was struck by a second vehicle. Authorities stated that the driver of the second vehicle, a 70-year-old woman, remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that drugs and alcohol were not believed to be factors in the collision.

Wear suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family described her as 'the heart of the family,' known for her warmth, kindness, and love.

She was a great-grandmother to nine children and was actively involved in her community, including helping her daughter and granddaughter open the Buc N Doe Restaurant in Fawnskin. Her relatives noted that her presence would be deeply missed, leaving an 'unimaginable emptiness.'

The incident occurred shortly before 7:55 p.m. Waalew Road was closed for several hours between Corwin Road and Dale Evans Parkway as investigators examined the scene.

This tragedy occurs against a backdrop of ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 18,460 lives were lost in motor vehicle crashes in the first six months of 2026. Pedestrians accounted for 18 percent of all traffic fatalities in the previous year, with one pedestrian killed every 72 minutes on average. In California, pedestrian deaths represented a decrease of 12 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, but remained 56 percent higher than in 2014.

Federal data also indicates that 77 percent of pedestrian fatalities in 2023 occurred in darkness, and 84 percent happened in urban areas, often at locations not at intersections. While these statistics highlight broader risks, authorities have not indicated that these factors contributed to the collision involving Wear.