From staff reports
Authorities believe a small dog might have been responsible for putting a van in a southeast Austin ditch Thursday afternoon.
Mower County Chief Deputy Sheriff Terese Amazi was flagged down by witnesses in the 1100 block of Fifth Place Southeast who said they saw the van go into the ditch, Austin Police Capt. Curt Rude said.
There were no people in the van, but Amazi did find a small dog.
Richard McAlister of Austin, who owns the van, said he put the vehicle in park and left it running while he and a friend went into a business across the street. Police suspect the dog might have jumped up on the steering column and accidentally put the van in gear.
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The van was not seriously damaged and the dog was not injured.
