Canton of Bern 24-year-old runs over dog - and continues driving

In the canton of Bern, a young woman ran over a dog with her car and drove on without stopping. She has now been held legally responsible.

A young woman in the canton of Bern hit the headlines after she hit a dog with her Mercedes-Benz and left the scene of the accident without looking after the animal. The incident occurred when the owner was out walking his dog, which suddenly ran out onto the road.

Despite braking immediately, the driver was unable to prevent the collision and the dog succumbed to its injuries at the scene of the accident, according to "20 Minuten".

The public prosecutor's office of the canton of Bern established that the 24-year-old noticed the collision but did not stop to provide assistance. Instead, she continued her journey, which, according to the penalty order, meant that she accepted that the animal had to suffer unnecessarily. She also failed to inform the police.

Legal consequences for the driver

In accidents involving animals, it is important to secure the scene of the accident immediately. In road traffic law, animals are regarded as property and in the event of material damage, the person responsible must inform the injured party or the police if this is not possible. In the case of wild animals, the police must be notified, who will then inform the responsible gamekeeper. These duties are regulated at cantonal level.

The young woman was convicted of violating the Animal Protection Act and the Road Traffic Act. She received a conditional fine of twelve daily rates of CHF 120 each, suspended for two years. In addition, she must pay a fine of 760 francs and bear the procedural costs of 500 francs. If she fails to pay, she faces a seven-day prison sentence.

The editor wrote this article with the help of AI.