TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The Tucson community is expressing grief over Lydia Reis, known as 'The Umbrella Lady,' after a car hit her Thursday morning.
Reports on social media began flooding in wondering if this was indeed the woman drivers are used to seeing around town.
"I pass her by almost everyday, and I think of her often - wondering what her story is, and where she’s going," shared Sarah Sowid-Shima.
Pima County deputies confirmed with KGUN 9 'The Umbrella Lady' was sent to the hospital and in critical condition.
The accident was so bad, it closed eastbound Ina Road.
"I worried about her safety walking the streets - Oracle has become such a dangerous place for pedestrians," Sowid-Shima added. "She deserved better than this."
Another Tucsonan Pamela J. Heidinger says she first heard about The Umbrella Lady through her mother, but doubted her existence.
Until, she finally saw Reis.
The first time I saw her walking, she was walking along the road with nothing in sight except the desert.
My mother, who is now 94, use to tell me she saw this lady walking in 100 [degree] heat in long dresses and a parasol.
I was starting to wonder about my mom and finally asked her if she thought other people saw this women.
One day, I was driving and there she was.
That's when The Umbrella Lady served as inspiration for a new craft Heidinger had just taken to.
"So, in my quest to pick up painting, I thought I would do that picture for mom. I have some cards that I have saved which are note cards with the photo on it," she shared. "I carry it in my car in case I ran into her again, I would tell her how special I thought she was."
Heidinger says she's collected photos over the last 20 years on a Facebook page dedicated to The Umbrella Lady.
Local Michael Lown-Peters tells KGUN 9 he used to manage a cigar warehouse in a neighborhood Reis frequented.
Every Saturday, she would come by the Cigar Warehouse and I'd have her vacuum, Windex my glass and take out little trash.
I gave her a "twenty" and some water and sent her on her way. She did this for me till I moved on from this job.
He recalls offering her water as she committed to her Victorian style wardrobe in the blazing heat Tucson faces almost half of the year.
Lown-Peters also spotted Lydia pulling her wagon multiple times across town. He thinks the neighborhood the car hit her is dangerous for pedestrians.
On a side note, Oracle Road is a dangerous road to navigate as a pedestrian...
From River Road North to as far north as Magee, there is no sidewalks on either side of the road.
This makes it very dangerous for pedestrians to walk on either side of the roadway, less pulling a red wagon behind them.
"Lydia has definitely touched my life in many ways and taught me to be a better and stronger person," shared Tucsonan Emily Bentzen. "She apparently has in some way touched many residents of Tucson. She blessed me and so many others in her little quaint ways."
Her legacy lives on, as well as, the memory of the umbrella she carried with grace and elegance.
RELATED: Arrest in wreck that killed woman known as 'Umbrella Lady'
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Caleb Fernández is a digital content producer for KGUN 9. After earning his bachelor's degree from Penn State in Advertising/Public Relations, Caleb went to New York where he learned production assistance, photography and art direction. Share your story ideas and important issues with Caleb by emailing caleb.fernandez@kgun9.com or by connecting on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
