Dog blamed for hitting woman with truck

OGDEN, Utah (AP) - A police dog that was left in a pickup truck with the engine running apparently knocked the vehicle into gear and ran down a woman who was walking to her mailbox.

Mary F. Stone, 41, was expected to remain hospitalized with a fractured pelvis and tailbone until at least Friday, said her husband, Paul Stone.

The dog, a German shepherd named Ranger, had been left in the truck while its handler responded to a domestic disturbance call Tuesday, police Lt. Loring Draper said. The truck's engine was on so Ranger would have air conditioning.

Draper said Ranger must have hit the shift on the steering column, putting the automatic transmission into gear. As the truck slowly rolled forward, police officers yelled to Stone, but she couldn't get out of the way in time, he said.

A front and rear tire ran over her. "She had tire marks on her clothes," her husband said.
The truck then went through the Stones' yard and struck a vehicle in the driveway.

Draper said police were trying to determine if there might have been some malfunction that would have allowed the gear shift to be moved easily.

07/14/06 07:41 EDT

That's the story up there folks. Now, can you tell me why they'd need to head line it as Dog blamed for hitting woman with truck. What did Ranger really do other than sit in the truck which shouldn't have been left running? Jackie adds her two cents by growling in agreement with that sentiment. I find, too often, dogs get the blame for things that are many times not their fault, but the pet owner's fault. I guess that's why people like Cesar Millan are doing well. Don't get me wrong I admire Cesar Millan and his work and his abilities. But, stop blaming the dog for things that are human error. Ok, I'm not crazy dog lady - yet - but just stop for a minute and think about it and tell me in all honesty that human stupidity isn't at play in many of these cases?