A driver has been charged after a single-vehicle crash in Huron East that police said was caused by a dog distracting the person behind the wheel. Huron County OPP, along with paramedics, responded to the collision on Kippen Road shortly after 7 p.m. on Sunday. Police said an SUV left the roadway and struck a tree stump. The impact deployed the vehicle’s airbags and left the SUV heavily damaged and inoperable. The driver, a 66-year-old from St. Thomas, was treated at the scene for minor injuries. According to investigators, a dog in the vehicle had jumped into the front seat, distracting the driver. Police said the driver then lost control of the SUV, left the roadway and collided with the tree stump. The driver has been charged with careless driving under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. Police are reminding motorists travelling with pets to ensure animals are properly secured and do not interfere with the safe operation of a vehicle.
