Friday, July 14, 2006

Police Dog in Truck Runs Over Woman

Florida's Sun-Sentinel reported yesterday that a police dog left inside a truck knocked it into gear and ran over a woman, leaving her hospitalized with a fractured pelvis and tailbone.

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.

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.

There's probably no malfunction. This is a big dog capable of bumping into things rather forcefully.

But there is a piece of equipment that comes standard on all cars and trucks. Maybe I'm the only person who knows about it. Maybe I'm the only person who uses it.

Two words: Parking Brake!

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