A heart-wrenching update has emerged following a tragic car crash on November 6th on the Seward Highway that claimed the lives of two people and left two dogs injured. One of those dogs, Lulu, has died after spending nearly a week under the compassionate care of local first responders.
Lulu, a tan and white dog, passed away in her sleep on Tuesday morning, according to Jennifer Harpe, a first responder with Cooper Landing Emergency Services who had been tending to her. Harpe had been up with Lulu around 4:30 a.m., when the dog was comfortably resting and drinking water. By 7:30 a.m., however, Lulu was found deceased.
“I was with her early this morning, and she seemed fine,” Harpe shared. “She’d had her favorite meal of rotisserie chicken, and she was improving daily. We were hopeful she would walk again soon.”
The crash, which involved a Chevrolet pickup truck and a motorcoach near mile 38 of the Seward Highway, resulted in the deaths of two Anchorage residents—57-year-old Leonard Weimer Jr. and 56-year-old Kelly Brown—at the scene. Emergency responders quickly attended to the surviving dogs, Lulu and Loki, who had both suffered injuries in the crash.
In a post on Facebook, Cooper Landing Emergency Services confirmed Lulu’s passing, describing her as a “trooper” who had shown improvement in the days following the crash. The post also expressed gratitude for the support of the community, which helped cover the costs of Lulu’s veterinary care.
“Lulu passed after a visit to the vet, and we were hoping for more time with her,” the post read. “Her journey was full of love and care, and we’re thankful for the time we had.”
Upon first encountering the dogs at the crash scene, Harpe and volunteer firefighter Kyle Sweet faced immediate challenges. The pair worked tirelessly to assist the injured animals, with Harpe using her background as an emergency vet technician to assess their conditions. Lulu, who had been trapped in the wreckage, required extraction by the jaws of life. She was in the worst condition, suffering significant trauma, while Loki, though injured, responded more quickly to treatment.
“We knew it was cold out there, and they needed help,” Sweet recalled. “We couldn’t just leave them. It felt like the best option was to bring them to our home.”
After transporting the dogs to their residence, Harpe began administering fluids and pain medication to Lulu, who had suffered the most severe injuries. Thanks to Harpe’s expertise and Sweet’s assistance, Loki showed signs of improvement and began responding to care. He has since recovered well and is eating and running without issue.
Lulu’s passing has left the community in mourning, but Sweet and Harpe take comfort in knowing they did everything they could to give the dog a chance at recovery. “It’s beautiful how our community came together to support Lulu,” Sweet said. “People helped with her medical bills, and we’re just grateful for the outpouring of care.”
While Lulu’s story has ended tragically, Loki’s journey continues. Harpe and Sweet are keeping him in their care until a permanent home can be found, with a family member preparing to take him in once ready.
“Loki’s doing great. He’s recovering and has a bright future ahead,” Harpe said. “We’ll continue to care for him until he has a permanent home, but we’re hopeful for his future.”
The compassion shown by first responders and the local community has highlighted the deep bond between people and animals, even in the face of heartache.
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