FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (Gray News) — A K-9 in California was struck and killed by a car after he was spooked by illegal fireworks, officials said.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said K-9 Santi was home Saturday night and was being kept inside due to fireworks in the area.
K-9 Santi was a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois and served with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office for four years.(Fresno County Sheriff’s Office)
Around 8:30 p.m., the deputy let Santi into the backyard to go pee. A firework went off while Santi was outside and spooked him, causing him to jump over the fence.
Santi’s handler immediately chased after him, but the “continued sound of fireworks caused Santi to keep sprinting away,” the sheriff’s office said.
Tragically, the deputy ultimately found Santi badly injured in the road. Santi was taken to a pet hospital, where he died.
Investigators determined Santi was hit by a car. The driver did not stop and left the scene.
Clovis police are leading the hit-and-run investigation.
Santi was a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois and served with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office for four years.
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