Hit and run kills service dog and injures woman on fundraising cancer walk

The victim of a hit and run involving an ATV is sharing her story after the incident left her hurt and her dog dead. CTV London’s Scott Miller reports.

It was an emotional return to the scene of the location where Diane Lummiss was hit by an ATV, injuring her and killing her service dog in training.

“I can just barely remember the sound. I have no memory after that. We assume that I was unconscious for up to 45 minutes,” said the Grey County woman.

Lummiss had to be airlifted to hospital on June 23, when a passing ATV hit her and her service dog, Mac, while the pair were walking on a multi use rail trail south of Markdale.

“My hip was almost dislocated. My wrist was badly sprained. I have another concussion. I have a contusion on my spine, and I have some neck issues,” said Lummiss, who needs to wear a wrist brace and requires crutches to get around.

Lummiss was out completing a fundraising walk to raise money for cancer research, in honour of her dearly departed mother, when she was hit.

“This was my present to her. I was going to finish my 50 km walk as my birthday present to her,” said Lummiss.

But what Lummiss really lost that day was her best friend and service dog in training, Mac. She said for the past year, he helped her deal with the panic and anxiety attacks she suffered from, due to a previous accident back in 2017.

“I will heal. It will take some time, but I will heal. The spot that Mac has in my heart, will take forever to heal,” said a tearful Lummiss.

With no memory of the incident, Lummiss knows that the only way she gets some answers is if the person that hit her and Mac comes forward.

“This is for Mac. I want someone to come forward and just say, you know, ‘Hey, I’m sorry,’” she said.

It’s justice for Mac that is driving Lummiss to come forward. She misses him everyday, now left only with his ashes and a memorial at the site of the hit and run.

“He made it possible for me to think that I could do this cancer walk for my mothers. He made it possible. And he loved every minute of it,” she said.

Lummiss vows to finish the 15 km she has left in her fundraising walk, crutches and all. She said she’ll likely complete it on the rail trail where she was hit just to visit Mac’s memorial, which is now adorned with flowers, and his leash.

“This is just justice for Mac. He was my world. He was my absolute world,” said Lummiss.

Anyone with information regarding Lummiss’ hit and run is encouraged to contact the Grey-Bruce OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or reach Crimestoppers at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS.