Puppy Rescued After Hit-And-Run Crash

A Monday afternoon hit-and-run crash on Interstate 275 has prompted the search for the man authorities say caused the wreck and then opted to leave a little puppy behind.

The incident began to unfold around noon on Monday as a 1999 Honda Accord was heading northbound on I-275 near milepost 33. At that time, a 2000 Dodge Caravan, driven by Gustavo Montalvo, 41, of Tampa was traveling ahead of the Honda. When Montalvo slowed down in traffic, the Honda, a Florida Highway Patrol report said, failed to do so.

The Honda struck the rear of the Caravan.

While both motorists initially pulled to the side of the roadway, the Honda’s driver didn’t stay long. Troopers say the man spoke with Montalvo briefly and then took a small dog out of his car and left it on the roadside. The man, the report said, then got back into the Honda and took off.

Trooper Robert Ray stepped in Monday to give the puppy a place to stay overnight. On Tuesday, the puppy, now named “Crash,” was placed with a local family for safekeeping, the highway patrol report noted. Pinellas County Animal Service has also listed to the dog as “found” in case its real owner is out there looking.

In the meantime, the search for the hit-and-run driver continues. Montalvo and two passengers of his suffered minor injuries in the wreck, officials noted.

The Honda, the highway patrol noted, was found abandoned in Manatee County early Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information about the Honda’s driver is asked to call the highway patrol at 813-631-4020.

Photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol