A California sheriff’s deputy and his K-9 partner were left hanging off a cliff after his patrol car was hit by an allegedly drunk driver.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred Saturday night around 8:40 p.m. local time when Deputy Castaneda was responding to a call for service near Neptune’s Net Seafood Restaurant regarding a “suspicious person call in the parking lot.”
“While Deputy Castaneda was traveling southbound on PCH near Deer Creek Road, his patrol unit was involved in a collision with a white sedan traveling northbound on PCH,” the sheriff’s office said in post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter). “After the collision, Deputy Castaneda’s vehicle veered off the roadway, became airborne and landed on large boulders near the shoreline below.”
The deputy was transported to Ventura County Medical Center after the incident with “non-life threatening injuries.”
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The deputy’s patrol vehicle was left hanging from a cliff on PCH.
Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter
His K-9 partner, Danny, a 2-year-old Dutch Shepherd, suffered a minor cut on his face.
The driver of the white sedan was also transported to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment.
In photos shared by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office on X, Castaneda’s patrol car could be seen stuck on some rocks above the water.
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The incident happened on Saturday night.
Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter
Additional photos also show the deputy being treated in the back of an ambulance with his canine companion by his side.
After receiving medical attention, the driver of the white sedan was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to authorities.
The driver, who is currently on DUI probation, was later booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on a felony DUI charge, the sheriff’s office added in its release.
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Deputy Castaneda and Danny the Dutch Shepherd.
Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter
In a statement posted on Facebook, the sheriff’s office said the cause of the crash was under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
They also added that they are “very grateful” that Deputy Castaneda and Danny “were not more seriously injured.”
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Damaged patrol car.
Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter
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A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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