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2007 September Slush
(DA) Shortcut?
(HM) Rattlesnake in Mouth
(DA) Stab in the Dark
(?) Trouser Cobra kills Cambodian man
(PA) Hedge Mower
Legally Blind Man Killed While Driv
Snakecharmer: Not!
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a bridge to far!
(Hmm) Hey everybody, watch this Fly !
Killacycle lives up to it's name?
(PA) Splitting Headache
(PA) Western Massacre
How to free an elevator
(?) 16 Killed in Truck meant for Five
murderer 0 and victim 1
Backside firework prank backfires
Head in the machine
(DA) Weight Lift
Where NOT to sleep
Ignited Arsonist Shoots Self
Attempted energy theft kills father
Student tried to jump over car
Man killed building pipe bomb
Testicles & Fireworks
Jet Ski Won't Turn
Barbequed deputy
A Stolen Trick, A Darwinian Treat
home security
Booby trap gets the Boob,and an arm
How NOT to use an emergency brake
Train and Lawnchair Man
here kitty kitty
Golf Hazard
Deadly Mirror
Man Impaled Trying to Climb Fence
Twice a charm
(HM) Police Arrest Woman Allegedly Weari
Hood Surfing
extreme redneck atv riding.
(HM) Man bitten after putting rattler in
Fisherman Blows Up!
man drowns trying to ,swim to party
suffocated by sand
Out of gas?
Man sticks Pet Rattlesnake in mouth
Deadly Horseplay Claims a Woman
gunpowder redneck explosion.
Drowned Drunk
What's that smell?
Wisconsin man sues when aftershave
Woman hit by 4 cars to save dog
Police Find Man's Body, Guillotine
Personal Account:Stomach 1, Brain 0
Suicide by Guillotine
Motorcycle Stupidity - Personal Acc
Man put rattlesnake in mouth
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Darwin Awards
2007 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Woman hit by 4 cars to save dog

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

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.

Submitted on 09/14/2007

Submitted by: Alison Fibiger
Reference: www.wyff.com/news/14112505 09/14/07

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
Love it! Hate it!
>> Moderator Scores <<

James said:
Neutral: Other
Thanks, Alison! Needless to say I'm not quite sure what to make of this. On the one hand, there's the element of her depression to consider. Secondly, highway incidents tend to be common (though we haven't had a whole lot this year). On the other hand, the visual is cartoony in a very dark way! I will defer to my fellow moderators...!

Bruce said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
The possibility of depression does put a bit of a damper on this one, but it certainly does have all the elements of a DA on the surface. I'll give it a marginal nod. Thanks, Alison.

Chip said:
Neutral: Other
Well, this one has be flummoxed as well. A bit gruesome, a bit ordinary (struck by car while chasing your dog), a bit out of the ordinary (why was she so far from home). Not amusing at all until the last sentence. I will stand on the sidelins of this one.

Graham said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Hmm, do we KNOW she was chasing the dog, or did it merely escape? This is a tough one. I'll reserve judgement until we have more details.

Shadow said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I am on the fence so I will pass this one on to Darwin... she went to great lengths trying to save the dog

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