A woman was struck and killed Sunday evening by a bus traveling down Richmond Highway near Beacon Hill, according to a police report. Phyllis Lowery, 49, walked into the right lane and appeared to lie down in the path of a Fairfax County Connector Bus, police said. After hitting Lowery, the 55-year-old bus driver stopped the bus and remained at the scene. Police spokesman Camille Neville said the driver has not been blamed for the collision that occurred at 7:15 p.m.
Mary Baker, a cook at Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church, said she first met Lowery in 1997 when the two women were living in the same homeless shelter. A few months ago, Lowery spent several weeks at Baker's house before moving in with another friend who lives near where Lowery was struck by the bus.
"She was beautiful," Baker said. "She was a beautiful person." Baker said Lowery was unwell, and had recently spoken about the severity of her illness.
"Phyllis loved children. She loved children and she loved people. She would do anything she could for anybody to help them. But she had these demons. She loved to cook. She loved to clean. If you had a problem she'd come to your house and help you. She'd do anything she can for you," Baker said.