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'It's Going To Be Hard': Erie Man Mourns Dog Killed In Hit-And-Run

ERIE, Colo. (CBS4) - A dog died after a driver struck him and his owner during a hit-and-run accident in Erie on Wednesday, police said.

Rudy Landin told police he was walking his two dogs when the driver of a truck bolted through a stop sign while making a right turn. The truck hit the man while he was in a crosswalk at Skyline Drive and Mountain View Boulevard. The accident happened at approximately 6:30 a.m.

The dog, Black Jack, was taken to a veterinarian, but his injuries were too severe and he had to be euthanized.

Both dogs were on leashes. Landin had minor injuries after being thrown several feet. But he said he is hurting more emotionally.

"The pain of losing my dog at this point is bigger than the pain to heal physically," Landin said.

He said the driver stopped and exited the truck. Landin told him to move the truck forward so he could retrieve Black Jack, who was trapped underneath. After Landin pulled his dog free, the truck driver left and continued north on Mountain View.

"I think that when he saw that the dog was bleeding profusely, he just decided that he wasn't to going to stay," he said.

Landin said he picked up Black Jack and ran home as fast as he could to try to save him.

His other dog, Harley, was not injured.

Police said they're looking for a white man in his 60s, about 5-foot-6 with a stocky build and a white mustache. The victim wasn't able to identify the make and model of the truck but said it's black and larger than a Ford F-150.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Greg Turner at 303-926-2800.

"He needs to come forward and face what he did," he said of the driver.

Landin and his wife, who don't have children, said the dogs are family.

"When (Black Jack) sat down for the night, he would just come and lay on my lap and ready to go to sleep," Landin said. "So it's going to be hard."

Black Jack from owner
Black Jack (courtesy to CBS)
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