Loved ones are in shock after a New Hampshire woman was hit and killed by an Amtrak train while saving an off-leash dog from the tracks in Exeter.
Alicia Leonardi, 42, of Plaistow, would have done anything for Jackson.
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WATCH HERE"She loved that dog," said Leonardi's mother, Cathleen Collis. "And it wasn't even her dog."
Leonardi was on a walk with her ex-boyfriend and his dog Monday afternoon. They were walking along the train tracks near the Newfields Road trestle, according to police.
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SIGN UP As an Amtrak train approached, Jackson ran onto the tracks at the sound of its horn.
"They said the train came around and spooked the dog, and she went after the dog, and that's when she got hit," said Collis.
Leonardi and her ex-boyfriend were both hit by the train as they tried to get the dog off the tracks. She was killed and he suffered minor injuries. The dog was not hurt.
"She is a brave girl," said Collis. "She's always been a brave girl. Smart, loved to help people, loved to help everybody."
Her family is grieving the sudden loss, but is in awe of Leonardi's heroism in trying to save the dog.
"She had a bright personality, a great smile. Beautiful woman," said her cousin Joe Gately. "It's tough on the family. She'd walk in the room with a smile, and everybody smiled."
Leonardi lived in Manchester, was working at a restaurant and hoping to go back to school to study skincare.
She leaves behind her mom, her 24-year-old daughter and a large and loving family.
"I'm going to miss her and I love her dearly," said Collis. "And she's going to be greatly missed by everybody."
"Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Ms. Leonardi," police said in a statement, noting that they were working with Amtrak and CSX police on what happened.
