Mayor Monica Carlson reads to a group of students at Skagway City Hall. (Henry Leasia for KHNS)

Skagway Mayor Monica Carlson and her mother died in a traffic accident last night in Washington D.C. Residents and city leaders are grappling with their loss.

Skagway Mayor Monica Carlson and her mother Cora Louise Adams were struck and killed by a bus while crossing the street near the National Mall. Both women died of their injuries in the hospital. Detectives with the Metropolitan Police are still investigating the fatal traffic crash. Skagway officials learned the news late Wednesday night.

“The whole town is shocked saddened and grieving,” said Skagway assemblyman Orion Hanson. “I don’t know that we’ve really digested it yet. I think a lot of people are still finding out. It’s a true loss for Skagway. Have to grieve on it and move forward,” he said.

Mayor Carlson was elected in 2017. She was Skagway’s second female mayor and beat the two-time incumbent Mayor as a write in candidate. She had one year left of her term. Carlson served on the assembly before she served as Mayor.

Hanson says that municipal leaders decided to put most city business on hold until after the holidays.

“Paying bills and all the normal things we have to do to keep the town functioning will occur,” Hainson said. “In terms of how we go forward with the loss of our mayor… I don’t think we’ve figured that out yet.”

Vice Mayor Tim Cochran is the acting mayor. Skagway is functioning on a lean government. The city is also working to replace their manager at this time.

Steve Hites is Carlson’s brother-in-law. He remembers her as a loving wife and mother, with a great sense of humor.

“I can’t imagine someone who cared more about her friends, her neighbors, and her colleagues,” Hites said. “And she was humble about it. She was caring. And she was totally honest. ”

Hites says it was a last minute trip to the capitol. Carlson received a pair of tickets to see the White House Christmas Lights from Senator Sullivan’s office when the original ticket holders cancelled the day before.

The city does not yet have plans for a rememberance. Monica Carlson is survived by Robert Carlson, her husband of 34 years, and her son Maxwell Carlson, a US Marine serving in Florida. Carlson and her husband lived in Skagway since 1988.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed his condolences in a statement. He said “Skagway’s loss is Alaska’s loss.” State flags will fly at half-staff on January first in honor of Mayor Carlson.