'She Rates Dogs' Podcast Host Mat George Dies In Hit-And-Run

“She Rates Dogs” podcast host Mat George died Saturday, July 17, after being hit by a car in Los Angeles. Michaela Okland, George’s co-host, confirmed the 26-year-old’s death on Twitter.

“I would rather you guys here [sic] this from me than a news article,” she wrote.

“Mat was killed in a hit and run last night. I don’t really have any words right now. I wish I could contact everybody who knows him personally but the news is already out and I just can’t do it right now,” she continued.

George had been struck and killed by a white BMW while walking southbound in an unmarked crosswalk on Croft Avenue at around 2:20 a.m. Saturday, CBS Los Angeles reported. The BMW was allegedly moving east on Beverly Boulevard when it hit George, causing the victim to move in an eastbound direction and strike the roadway. Paramedics who responded to the incident pronounced George dead at the scene.

In a separate post, Okland thanked the people who reached out to her for support. “Thank you to everybody who’s reached out, I’m really sorry but I probably won’t respond for a while even if we are close,” she wrote. “And thank you so much to everybody telling stories and sharing how he impacted you. Whenever you think of him in the future, please do talk about him.”

Okland also announced on the “She Rates Dogs” podcast Twitter page that she and George had recorded one more episode for the show that’s scheduled for Tuesday, but it would likely be put on hold.

“I know in years to come I’ll feel so lucky that there are so many recordings of Mat’s laugh to revisit. I am not ready to talk about everything or to have to use past tense to describe him. I think you all knew within 10 seconds of listening to him how vibrant, loving, accepting, and wonderful Mat George is,” she wrote.

The LAPD West Traffic Division is yet to identify the owner of the BMW, who reportedly continued driving east after the incident.