The driver got out. One dog got out with him. The second dog was still inside a white van that had gone into the ocean off Pacific Coast Highway.
That is when Ventura County firefighters went in.
What Happened Near Deer Creek Road
The crash happened Saturday on Highway 1 near Deer Creek Road, just north of Malibu. A white van veered off the roadway and ended up in the water near large rocks.
The driver self-extricated from the vehicle and got one of the two dogs out with him. The second dog remained trapped inside as the van sat in the ocean.
How the Second Dog Was Rescued
As CBS News LA reported on the Malibu rescue, Ventura County firefighters and California State Parks Lifeguards worked together to access the vehicle, free the dog, and carry it up to the roadway.
The VCFD statement said: “The driver had self-extricated with one of their dogs, but a second dog remained trapped inside. Firefighters and CA State Parks Lifeguards accessed the vehicle, safely freed the dog, and carried it up to the roadway.”
Neither dog appeared to be injured. The driver was hospitalized in stable condition with minor injuries. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
Water rescues for dogs require the same fast coordination every time. When two dogs fell into a Tempe canal with no way to climb out, the margin between survival and not came down to how quickly responders moved.
Why “Carried Up to the Roadway” Matters
That line in the VCFD statement tells you something about the terrain. This was not a flat parking lot. The van ended up near large rocks below the highway, which means firefighters and lifeguards had to reach a vehicle in ocean water, free a dog, and physically carry it back up to road level.
PCH near Deer Creek Road drops sharply toward the water. There is very little margin between the highway and the ocean in that stretch.
Have you ever thought about what would happen to your dog in a car accident? What precautions do you take? Tell me in the comments.
Why This Matters
Dogs are rarely secured during car travel, which means in a crash they become a danger to themselves and to rescuers who have to reach them in a damaged vehicle.
According to the AVMA’s pet safety in vehicles guidance, it is unsafe for pets to be loose inside motor vehicles. During a collision, unrestrained pets can be thrown through windows or crushed by airbags, and can interfere with emergency responders at the scene.
Southern California first responders have shown this commitment before. Pasadena firefighters revived an unconscious dog pulled from a burning home, the same region and the same willingness to go further than required.
LA has seen this kind of intervention before. Rosie, a pit bull saved from a burning van on Skid Row, was freed by a stranger with bolt cutters when no one else stopped. Different rescue, same instinct.
Key Takeaways
- On Saturday, a white van drove off PCH near Deer Creek Road just north of Malibu and landed in the ocean.
- The driver self-extricated and saved one dog before rescue teams arrived.
- A second dog remained trapped inside the van in the water.
- Ventura County firefighters and CA State Parks Lifeguards worked together to free the second dog.
- Neither dog appeared injured. The driver was hospitalized in stable condition.
- The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Both Dogs Made It Out
The driver made it out. One dog made it out with him. The second dog made it out because two teams showed up and went down to the water to get it.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Details are based on public reports and may change.