ARLINGTON - A young girl witnessed the death of her mother as she sat in a stalled car her mother was trying to push off the road late Saturday night in Arlington.

Authorities said Linda Rodriguez, 41, was killed after a 21-year-old driver plowed his car into her as she pushed her vehicle off Interstate 20. At the time, Rodriguez's nine-year-old adopted daughter was in the front seat of the car steering as her mother pushed.

Dee Martinez, Rodriguez's mother, said her daughter ran out of gas.

"What a lovely daughter she was," Martinez said while looking at a photograph of the Fort Worth mother. "My brother said he wanted to take pictures of all the brothers and sisters because he said we never know when something happens."

Police said due to low visibility, there was likely nothing the driver could have done differently to avoid the tragedy since there was little time to react.

Rodriguez's death was the second tragic accident of this type that has occurred in North Texas during September. Three weeks ago, two men were nearly killed in Cedar Hill when a driver slammed into them as they pushed a stalled car off the road. In that case, doctors were forced to amputate the owner of the stalled car's leg due to the injuries he suffered in the accident.

"The only thing that helps me right now is I know the Lord, and the Lord gives me the strength I need," Martinez said of her daughter's death.

Police say those who find themselves in a similar situation as Rodriguez should leave the car, find a safe spot and wait for help.

E-mail jbetz@wfaa.com