Friends and family are remembering the joyful, happy personality of a woman who died trying to save her beloved dog.
Katie Mason was a member of the Virginia National Guard who spent time at Virginia Commonwealth University. She lived with her pup and parents at her home in Aquia. She was 28 years old.
"Katie was always kind, sweet and had a huge personality," a family friend told News4. "It's so heartbreaking."
Her fellow service members shared their grief on social media.
"It's a sad day for the 266th MP family. Rest in peace Katie Mason," one wrote on Facebook.
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"It's hard to say goodbye to a colleague who has been less of a co-worker and more of a friend," another coworker wrote.
Mason had attended a wedding on Saturday and then headed home to pick up her pug. She then headed to see a friend in Richmond. She was near Exit 136 around 10 p.m. Saturday when her car veered into a guardrail , Virginia State Police said.
Katie opened her car door and the dog ran out, police said. She chased the dog toward the southbound lanes. Both were struck and died on the scene.
State police said a Honda Civic going south on I-95 couldn't avoid hitting Mason as she ran through the lane.
Police are investigating the crash.
