An 82-year-old Columbia woman who was convicted in 2008 of multiple animal cruelty counts after county health officials found more than 70 dead and dying cats in her Owen Brown home was killed after being hit by a truck shortly before Thanksgiving, according to police.

Ayten Icgoren, 82, of Columbia,  was struck Nov. 24 by an eastbound Toyota pickup truck in the 7200 block of Cradlerock Way as she was crossing the street in a crosswalk, according to a police spokeswoman. She died a couple of days after the collision, the spokeswoman said.

Police are still investigating the collision and no charges have been filed, the spokeswoman said.

Jeanne Doke, 77, also of Owen Brown, said she was a friend of Icgoren’s and was grieved by the loss.

“She would come in and have tea with me,” Doke said. “I miss her. That was my only friend. ... I was maybe her only friend.”

Icgoren was convicted of 21 counts of animal cruelty on Sept. 24, 2008. The case dated to August 2006, when animal control officials found more than 100 cats in Icgoren’s house, many of them dead. About 50 live cats seized in the house had to be euthanized because they were in such poor condition.

Icgoren was subsequently sentenced to six months in jail for violating the terms of her pre-sentencing probation. In issuing the sentence, Judge J. Thomas Nissel noted his regret for sending an elderly woman to jail but said she gave him little choice.

Nese Enetullah Icgoren, 52, Ayten Icgoren’s daughter, was also convicted of multiple counts of animal cruelty and subsequently sentenced to 74 days in prison.

Doke this week said that despite Icgoren’s animal cruelty convictions, she loved animals — especially cats — and helped give shots to Doke’s animals.

“When my cat got hurt she came over and helped me,” Doke said. “She would come over and helped me hold him while I gave him the shots.”

Doke said Icgoren’s cats multiplied in her home because she did not believe in having them neutered or spayed, and ultimately she was unable to cope with all of the animals.

“Sometimes you take in more than you can handle,” Doke said.