A Chilliwack senior was pronounced dead at the scene of a single-vehicle accident on Yale Road Tuesday afternoon.

Mounties say Doris Lovejoy's 1994 Toyota Camry left the north side of Yale Road-east of Upper Prairie Road-and struck a tree just after 4 p.m.

Lovejoy, 83, was the lone human occupant of the car; a small dog belonging to Lovejoy and named Smudgie suffered injuries to its legs and was taken to a local animal hospital.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Tammy Hollingsworth said Lovejoy had various health conditions and that a cause of death has not been determined.

Police hailed the actions of passing motorists, who extinguished a fire in the Camry's engine and cared for the injured dog until animal control arrived on the scene.