An Escambia County man was killed after a dog jumped in a vehicle and pushed the accelerator, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.
Iris H. Fortner, 56, and James W. Campbell, 68, both of Cantonment, were returning to their Desoto Road home about 10:20 a.m. Monday when the incident occurred.
According to an FHP report, Campbell exited the passenger side of a 1995 Chevy van Fortner was backing into their property on Desoto Road. As Campbell was opening the residence's double metal gates, Fortner opened the driver's side front door to look for Campbell "to see what side of the double gate he was standing on," the FHP report stated.
Meanwhille, Fortner's large boxer bull dog had run from their address to her location and jumped into the driver's side compartment, and the dog pressed the accelerator, causing the vehicle to back into Campbell, according to FHP. Fortner attempted to stop the vehicle but wasn't able to do so before Campbell was trapped under the front right of the van.
He was pronounced dead on the scene by Escambia County paramedics, according to the report. The death is under investigation, FHP noted.
