Florida man run over, killed after dog pushes vehicle's accelerator

A Florida man has died after a dog jumped into a van and pushed the accelerator, causing the vehicle to strike the man as he opened a gate outside of his home, authorities said.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that 68-year-old James Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.

The strange incident began as Campbell and Iris Fortner, 68, returned to their home in Cantonment, Fla., on the Florida Panhandle on Monday. 

According to an FHP report, while Fortner, who was driving, backed a 1995 Chevy van into their property, Campbell got out of the passenger's side of the vehicle to open a metal gate outside their home.

As Fortner opened the driver's side door to see where Campbell was standing, her large boxer came running toward the van and jumped in, pressing the accelerator, the report said. 

Before Fortner could stop the vehicle, it struck and ran over Campbell, trapping him under it, according to the report. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. 

Campbell's death is under investigation. Fortner has not been charged. 

Discuss this post

Jump to discussion page: 1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 10

Right, sure the dog did it. My homework was routinely eaten by my dog and you can believe it or not. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

  • 1 vote
Reply#158 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:42 PM EST

But this guy actually HAD a dog... lol

  • 1 vote
#158.1 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:46 PM EST
Reply

Bet the dog ate the homework too.

    Reply#159 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:46 PM EST

    Sounds shady, the dog did it??? And about Florida, there is a big difference between north, mid and south Florida...

      Reply#160 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:48 PM EST
      George NYDeleted

      but he had a license.

        Reply#162 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:51 PM EST

        Maybe we should ban boxers.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#163 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:51 PM EST
        Reply

        "Fortner has not been charged."

        Didn't the article just say she wasn't in the van and that the dog hit the accelerator? Why would she be charged?

          Reply#164 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:55 PM EST

          Crazy! What was this dog thinking?

          • 1 vote
          Reply#165 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:01 PM EST

          Likely Story....how much insurance money will be paid out? And was the dog breathalyzed at the scene?

            Reply#166 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:02 PM EST

            how could this happen except if the vehicle was in shift for drive??????

              Reply#167 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:02 PM EST

              florida's jails are overcrowded - free the dog

              • 1 vote
              Reply#168 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:06 PM EST

              Better Ban Dogs, Never know when there gonna kill someone

              • 1 vote
              Reply#169 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:10 PM EST

              LOL If you think about it he got out of the passenger side to open the gate. She was sitting in the drivers seat hopefully with her foot on the brake after she backed in. If the dog hit the accelerater (which would be hard )did they have a consoul in the front as many do? I think maybe she did it and is blaming the dog. The dog jumped in the drivers side as she was looking back so it had to either jump over her come back and hit the gas or run under her legs and hit it and hold it down. I think as she looked back she slipped off the brake and hit the gas.

                Reply#170 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:16 PM EST

                I, too, think this doesn't pass the smell test. Or even the good sense test.

                Any time I open my car door for a passenger, I make certain I am in 'park.' And especially if there is a person in front of my car, in back of my car, or between my car and some other obstacle (fence, building, stone wall, whatever) against which someone could be injured if things went awry.

                I see a great lack of caution here. And lest you think I'm some kid trying to tell people how to do it, I'm older than the woman involved in this incident. But I was brought up to think of safety first, then convenience.

                  Reply#171 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:18 PM EST

                  maybe the dog thought it was romney.

                  • 3 votes
                  Reply#172 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:20 PM EST

                  Should of got a Teddy Ruxpin...

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#173 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:25 PM EST

                  Big mistake leaving the vehicle in gear while opening the door.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#174 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:25 PM EST

                  Blame the dog,, lets put a ban of dogs that can drive, they also want to see the destruction of man since man only destroys everything he touches

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#175 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:28 PM EST

                  WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT? Really? C'mon...that is INSANE. What are the chances of that even happening? Fido in the dog house...fo' sure.

                    Reply#176 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:28 PM EST

                    Sit Ubu, sit.

                    NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                      Reply#177 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:35 PM EST

                      Dogs chase cars with humans in it, so the dog figured that cars chase humans with dogs in it, so what a gate got in the way he's a dog what does he know the chase ended quick haven't you ever had the brakes applied the your nose.

                        Reply#178 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:40 PM EST

                        Maybe the dog was a bounty hunter?.. Did it have poodle hair?

                          Reply#179 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:41 PM EST

                          I heard he was a real hard AZZ a boxer, maybe he was showing off for the neighbor dog, trying to get some poodle tang!

                            #179.1 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:58 PM EST
                            Reply

                            Ok what I want to know is how the dog shifted gears. I don't think that the driver of the truck(not the dog) would've been able to leave the truck in gear without it moving when he got out to open the gate. Maybe a stupid question but a question none-the-less

                              Reply#180 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:42 PM EST

                              scully, we do not want to bring reason into this it's in Florida! It's probally an illegal immigrant dog in the firat place and related to President Obama, they shoot hoops on the weekend so don't worry there is a presidental pardon in here for the dog. The wife well someone has to feed him kibble Miss O can't know the Big O is cheating with another Dog. Not that M is you now but they do have a White House pet and after these four years the little guy well you know ;-}

                                #180.1 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:47 PM EST
                                Reply

                                The dog saw his chance.....the old man was out of the van, he thought the old lady was getting out...time to jump in and go for a joyride!

                                  Reply#181 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:46 PM EST

                                  A sad thing. I hope the lady will be ok. The dog was just doing what always did. Going for a ride.

                                    Reply#182 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:55 PM EST

                                    I'd say that something sounds fishy - except it was a dog involved. Must be a hell of a long legged dog to be able to jump in the the front seat with a person sitting there and step on the accelerator. I suspect that the dog jumped on her and she smashed her foot on the pedal herself.

                                      Reply#183 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:56 PM EST

                                      No dumber than all these purple-haired women with their purple-haired poodles driving these pink Caddies down the interstate at 100-miles per hour.

                                        #183.1 - Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:59 PM EST
                                        Reply
                                        Jump to discussion page: 1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 10
                                        You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
                                        As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.