ANDERSON, S.C. -- A woman from Georgia died when she was hit by four vehicles on Interstate 85 on Thursday night as she tried to rescue her dog, authorities said.
Investigators said that they believe Lou Ellena Hutgens, 68, was driving a convertible north on I-85 in Anderson County at about 10:45 p.m.
The dog jumped out of the car when the woman stopped to put up the top up near mile marker 26, investigators said.
Hutgens was in the middle lane of the highway when she was hit by a sport utility vehicle, an 18-wheeler and two cars.
All of the vehicles stopped except the tractor-trailer, investigators said.
Hutgens was a resident of Dunwoody, Ga., near Atlanta, investigators said.
Hutgens' husband filed a missing persons report with the Dekalb County Sheriff's office about an hour before he got a call from the coroner that she had been hit. He said that his wife left their home Thursday afternoon, saying she was going to take the dog to the veterinarian and that she would be home about 5 p.m.
Investigators are trying to determine why Hutgens was so far from home. They said it is possible that she may have gotten bad news from the vet and that may have "set her off." Greenville County Coroner Greg Shore said that the woman had some history of depression.
Troopers found the medical records of the dog, Shadow, in the car. The dog had run away, but troopers were able to find and catch him.
Shore said that the dog was released to Anderson County Animal Control and would be taken to a vet.
Hutgens' husband and grandson are on their way to Greenville to claim Hutgens' remains and the dog.
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