Woman dies saving dog from traffic

A North Shore woman died yesterday after a car hit her as she was making a desperate attempt to save her dog from the same fate.

Ok Young Oh, 49, was pulling out of her driveway on to busy East Coast Rd during the morning rush hour but jumped out to stop her dog from being run over.

The car hit Mrs Oh as she stepped on to the road and she died despite the efforts of passersby who stopped to help.

Three motorists blocked the road with their cars while others tried to resuscitate her.

Mrs Oh and her property developer husband, originally from Korea, are known to their neighbours as Christine and Simon Lee. They have two children.

Neighbour Jenny Winton said Mrs Oh loved her dog, a small bichon frise, but was "very rarely out walking it".

She was not surprised by her neighbour's actions. "I would probably do the same. Most dog-lovers would."

Constable Blair Atkinson of the North Shore serious crash unit said the driver of the car was traumatised but unhurt.

The road was closed for almost five hours as crash investigators studied the scene at the intersection of East Coast Rd and Aberdeen Rd.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Mr Atkinson said the dog had not been seen since the accident.