The former mayor of Bullhead City in Arizona suffered serious injuries while trying to break up a dog fight that ended up killing her husband, the New York Daily News reported.
Diane Vick and her husband, Thomas, were trying to stop their pet boxer from attacking their cocker spaniel in their home on Saturday.
"They both attempted to break up the fight, but the boxer suddenly turned and began attacking them," Lt. Nick Sessions of the Bullhead City Police Department said.
First responders rushed the couple to Western Arizona Regional Medical Center for treatment. Diane was later airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital where she is currently recovering. Thomas, a social studies teacher, could not be saved.
Information regarding the specific injuries and cause of death were not immediately available and both dogs were taken by Bullhead City Animal Control.
Jack Hakim, the city's current mayor, said Vick was "pretty well beat up" but does not believe her injuries are life-threatening.
"We've had dog bites before, but never something like this," he added.
"It's very sad for us in Bullhead City. She was a former mayor and he was a prominent high school teacher at Mohave High School. ... We're just grateful that at least one of them was able to survive."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 -- 4.7 million Americans suffer dog bites every year. However, only .0002 percent of those bites result in death.
