Man Killed When Dog Crashes Through Car Windshield

[matcom]

<snip>

One moment, William Jetchick noticed something out of the corner of his eye as he rode down Interstate 96 with his father -- a shadow, perhaps.

"Then there was a BOOM and the window crashed in," said Jetchick, 55, of Westland. "I was very startled. I looked at my dad, and his eyes were closed. He was moaning and nearly unconscious."

A 70-pound black Labrador retriever, apparently chased by children trying to return it to its backyard, jumped off the overpass and landed on the windshield of the Jetchicks' 1994 Ford Thunderbird, police say. Charles Jetchick, 81, the driver, died Wednesday of injuries sustained in the accident.

William Jetchick said he had worried that they would crash after the dog fell on the car because his father's foot still was on the accelerator.

Instead, Jetchick said, he tried to grab the wheel.

"I tried to shift the car into neutral, but it wouldn't go," he said of the Saturday afternoon incident. "I moved his leg from the accelerator, and I pulled over as the car slowed down. I looked around expecting to see a chunk of concrete in the front seat, but there was nothing. I looked in the back, and there was this big black dog."

Jetchick, who suffered a cut hand from the incident, said three other cars pulled over to help and call 911. The dog had died instantly.

Trooper Anthony Stafford responded to the crash and said both Jetchicks were bleeding from lacerations but were lucid.

"You could tell that both men had gotten the force of the impact, but they seemed well. The driver and the passenger answered my questions and were able to give me their driver's licenses. The dog was in the back seat of the vehicle."

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060120/METRO/601200409

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. This had traffic on 96 wound up for hours. It took me five times as long

to get home...and then when I saw it on the news, I just got so sad. :cry:

[Montauk6]

2. Wow!!!!... and I'm still reeling over the jeep falling onto the Lodge

around the Christmas holiday.

[Coventina]

3. I'm having trouble believing the kids' story.

A dog wouldn't take a suicide leap like that unless it was absolutely terrified. And why was it running away from the children?

Sounds like an abused creature making a desperate break for freedom.

[JVS]

5. Or kids dropping a dog from an overpass

[Coventina]

6. A definite possibility. n/t

[friesianrider]

8. My thoughts exactly...

Dogs won't just jump from a height like that unless completely scared.

[Blue Diadem]

4. I'm very sad for everyone involved

I read about this a few days ago and at that time they didn't mention the dog was being chased.

Tragic for everyone involved..

:cry:

[Strong Atheist]

7. That's terrible! nt.

[underpants]

9. GOD crashed through his windshield?

are people lining up to see the image left behind....ooops wrong term...oh yeah that right they just want to see his son.