Chesapeake veterinarian killed in crash

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - The woman killed in a head-on crash just one block from her home Thursday morning was a well-known veterinarian in the Chesapeake community.

Chesapeake Police identified the victim as Ruth Ann MacQueen, age 59, of the 2200 block of Shillelagh Road. MacQueen owned Midway Veterinary Hospital on South Military Highway.

"This morning when I was getting ready to go work, we were in the kitchen. I reached over and kissed her goodbye and told her to have a good day. That's the last memory of her," MacQueen's husband, Roger Pope told WAVY.com.

Kelly O’Sullivan with the Chesapeake Police Department told WAVY.com the crash occurred in the 2300 block just before 8:30 a.m. MacQueen was on her way to visit her 90-year-old mother.

Pope and MacQueen had been married for seven years and shared 10 pets.

"Four out of the five dogs are rescue, four out of the five cats are rescue. The animals are a big part of our life. That's the reason Ruth Ann wanted to be a veterinarian from when she was a little girl," Pope said. "She was the kindest person I know. She would give everything she had to help somebody out. Whether it was the animals or friends. She was loved at church. She loved going to church. She loved her employees and her employees loved her."

The love and care MacQueen's employees and patrons had for her was obvious Thursday evening with a memorial left outside of the Hospital and fond memories of her posted on social media.

"Ruth Ann was a wonderful Vet to my many "kids"... [this is] a great loss for all the per lovers she served," Laurie Powell wrote on Facebook.

Two Grassfield High School students were also involved in the crash.

"[One of them] was trapped in the car. Her sister got out and fell on the ground. I just held her hand, and tried to keep her awake cause she was falling asleep. I kept telling her not to move," said Frances Norge who witnessed the accident and offered her assistance while she waited for the ambulance to arrive.

They were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to police.

O'Sullivan said the 18-year-old driver and a 15-year-old passenger were in an Isuzu Rodeo traveling north bound. The other driver was in a minivan traveling south bound.

Police have not released the girls' names, but their father contacted WAVY.com and provided the following statement:

"We are so thankful that the girls are recovering and want to thank the many parents & faculty members who expressed their concern: offered their thoughts & prayers, and their assistance. We feel fortunate to be part of a caring community. We are devastated to learn of the condition of the other driver. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. I'm sure others in the community feel the same. Words cannot express our feelings for such a tragedy."

About an hour after this crash, officers were called to another accident scene down the road, in the 1400 block of Shillelagh. According to O'Sullivan, this was a rear-end crash and one of the drivers was transported to the hospital with arm pain.

Pope says funeral plans for MacQueen are not complete, but he is encouraging those interested send donations to "Dizzy Fund" at Midway Veterinary Hospital, which helps people who can not afford treatment for their pets.