Zina Bethune, Famed Dancer, Theater Founder, Killed in Possible Hit-and-Run After Stopping to Help Injured Animal
Cops today were looking for the driver of a white car who might have fled after hitting Hollywood dance legend Zina Bethune near Griffith Park, leaving her for dead.
Theatre Bethune
Bethune, who was born Zina Feeley, is the founder of Theatre Bethune in L.A. She danced with the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine when she was only 14. She appeared in Martin Scorcese's Who's That Knocking at My Door in 1967.
Police say she was driving her 2006 Lincoln Town Car and pulled over to ...
... render aid to an injured animal near Griffith Park. The Daily Mail reported it was a wounded possum.
Feeley was killed after she was struck by at least two vehicles at 12:05 a.m. Sunday, according to the LAPD. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
It happened in the 6200 block of Forest Lawn Drive. According to a police statement, the 66-year-old ...
... was driving westbound on Forest Lawn Drive when she stopped and parked her 2006 Lincoln Towncar along the north shoulder of the road. Feeley stopped to check on a small animal found laying in the eastbound number two lane of Forest Lawn Drive. Once Feeley got out of her car, she walked toward the direction of the fallen animal and was struck by a car traveling eastbound in the number one lane of Forest Lawn Drive.The impact of the collision threw Feely into the westbound number one lane of Forest Lawn Drive where she was struck a second time by an unknown car traveling eastbound on Forest Lawn Drive. She was dragged underneath the car for more than 600 feet and came to rest in the eastbound number two lane of Forest Lawn Drive.
Theatre Bethune
It's not clear if the driver of the second car stopped to help, as several drivers appeared to have done, but officers want to talk to the person behind the wheel of a white car seen leaving the scene.
Feeley, who suffered from scoliosis and lymphedema in her lifetime, was known for teaching dance to disabled children.
Anyone who might have info on the white car was asked to call detectives at 213-972-1825.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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