PULLEYS MILL - Friends will begin combing the Johnson County countryside again this morning, hoping to find a champion Rottweiler who ran away from the scene of an accident on Interstate 24 that killed her owner on Monday.

The dog's owner, Diane Martin of Chicago, died from injuries she received when her RV crashed into a rock wall near mile marker 2, just east of that interstate's split with Interstate 57.

Martin and her four dogs, including an American Staffordshire terrier, miniature Pinscher, a mixed breed and "Smooth," the Rottweiler, were on their way from Chicago to Chattanooga to attend a dog show where Smooth was scheduled to compete in agility trials. Martin was traveling eastbound on Interstate 24, just east of I-57 when, friends said, a tire blew out and she went off the roadway and struck a rock wall.

A trucker was first on the scene and attempted to help Martin but friends said Smooth was "in protective mode" and blocked the man's entry into the RV. Somehow the trucker was able to remove the dog from the vehicle and Smooth subsequently fled the scene, along with another of the dogs, which was found near the crash site Tuesday morning.

Martin was flown to a St. Louis hospital where she died Monday night.

Carterville resident Martha Mulkin was watching coverage of the accident on a local newscast. While few details of the crash were released, Mulkin said her heart skipped a beat when she saw a dog crate covered with what she knew to be agility trial ribbons.

"I knew it was one of ours," said the dog enthusiast.

Although scattered across the nation, Mulkin said the agility show dog community is a tight-knit one and as word spread of Martin's wreck, concern for Martin's beloved pet grew. Friends began arriving in the area Tuesday to mount a search, coming from Paducah, St. Louis and Elgin.

An unofficial headquarters was established in the Longhorn Restaurant in Pulleys Mill, where friends reminisced about Martin. One friend said Martin was well known and well liked in the dog show community.

"Everyone from New England through Texas knew her. She did so much for all of us. Finding Smooth is the last thing we can do for Diane," said Jean Matushek of Elgin.

Another friend, Janine Fabrick Mroz, made the trip from St. Louis to help with the search.

"If the situations were reversed and this was any one of our dogs out here, she'd be doing the same thing. These dogs are like family members," Mroz said.

Ten-year-old Smooth was definitely one of the family, having competed in agility trials for a number of years. The dog had twice achieved master agility champion and was working on that crown again this year.

During the trials, dogs and their owners or trainers run an obstacle course that includes jumps, seesaws and tunnels. Matushek said everyone loved watching Martin and her dog.

"She was a dancer and had these long limbs. She ran with abandon and she did it barefoot. At the end of every run, Diane would throw her arms up and Smooth would jump up and they would do a celebratory dance, even when they didn't do that well on their run," Matushek said.

Martin's dogs, including Smooth, were "rescued" dogs, abandoned, stray or neglected dogs that have been rescued and taken into good homes.

"That's where her heart was, in rescuing dogs, giving them a good home and training them," Matushek said. "Smooth and her sister had been abused when they were younger and Diane took them in. They were very devoted to Diane."

The searchers believed they were closing in on Smooth's location late Thursday night, with the help of some alert Johnson County residents.

"The people here have been just great, as have the state troopers, Johnson County Animal Control and highway workers, helping us get the word out and showing the fliers around," Mulkin said. "We've had several sightings this afternoon and we think she is staying in the woods above the wreck site. Hopefully we'll be able to get her by morning."

Friends said Smooth is not aggressive, but is very shy and may not come if called by a stranger. Anyone who thiks they have seen the dog is asked to call Mulkin at (618) 985-6618 or (618) 303-7175. A reward is being offered.

"A 10-year-old dog is probably not worth a nickel, but she is priceless to her family and friends," Mulkin said. "She needs to come home."

beckym@onecliq.net 618-927-5633