Saanich Police seek driver after 2 dogs killed in crosswalk

Police in Saanich are looking for the driver of a car that struck and killed two leashed dogs in a marked crosswalk.

Anne Miller says her two dogs, Clementine and Moses, were out for a walk on a popular trail with her partner Mark Lafaille early on Friday morning.

But when Lafaille tried to cross Interurban Road at Grange Road in a marked pedestrian crossing, a vehicle narrowly missed him and struck the leashed dogs he was walking, Miller said.

"He's just traumatized. He can't talk about it anymore or relive it," she said. "He says he wakes up and he sees the car coming and the dogs being hit."

Saanich Police say the driver briefly stopped to see if the Lafaille was okay, but then left the scene.

"It seems like all the guy was thinking is that he could have been in trouble if Mark had been badly injured. It didn't matter about the dogs. He just took off," Miller said.

Lafaille was left to try to help the injured dogs on his own, Miller said. Clementine died soon after the collision. Moses was taken to see a veterinarian but also died from his injuries.

Saanich Police are looking to speak to the driver of the car involved.

"In this particular case the owner was crossing the street at a marked crosswalk, had his dogs leashed, had a light on himself and had even put lights on his dogs," said acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie.

"We're asking anyone with information to please come forward so we can identify the driver involved."

The driver is described as a Caucasian man, between 20 and 25 years old with blonde hair, Saanich Police said.

The car involved is described as a newer, blue, two door sedan that may have damage to the front as a result of the collision.