A former ballerina was killed when she was hit by two cars while trying to save a wounded animal.
Actress and teacher Zina Bethune, 66, left her car running on the side of a Los Angeles street just after midnight on Sunday when she got out to check on what turned out to be a dead opossum, Los Angeles Times reports.
"Zina has been known to take care of all living things, from birds falling out of nests to relocating a snake. She's that type of human being," Mary Avila, managing director of Theatre Bethune, said Monday.
Police believe Bethune was struck by a car travelling in the opposite direction which threw her to the other side of the road, where a second vehicle hit her and dragged her body 180m.
She suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are investigating the crash.
Bethune was artistic director and choreographer for Theatre Bethune, a non-profit organisation she started in 1980.
She also founded Infinite Dreams, a group that offer disabled children dance the opportunity to performance and dance at Californian schools and community centres.
Bethune also starred in Martin Scorsese's feature debut Who’s That Knocking At My Door alongside actor Harvey Keitel.
Front page
RSS Feed