Dog sees car hit and kill owner on sidewalk and walks home alone, Virginia cops say

A woman walking her dog was killed when a passing car veered onto the sidewalk, resulting in her bewildered dog walking home alone, Virginia deputies discovered.

It happened around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, in a neighborhood of single-family homes in Woodbridge, about a 23-mile drive southwest from Washington, D.C.

Maria Isabel Cardozo, 57, of Woodbridge, died at the scene, according to the Prince William County Police Department.

“The driver of a 2020 Nissan Versa was traveling southbound ... when the vehicle left the roadway and drove onto the sidewalk striking a pedestrian who was walking her dog,” police said in a news release. “The pedestrian was pronounced deceased on scene.”

The dog was nowhere to be found when police arrived.

However, officers later learned it was found waiting near Cardozo’s home. There were no reports of the dog being hurt in the crash.

The 30-year-old driver, who also lives in Woodbridge, remained at the scene and was not hurt, police said.

Investigators determined intoxication was not a factor in the crash, but the cause remains under investigation, officials said. No charges have been filed as of Oct. 18.

This story was originally published October 18, 2024 at 9:57 AM with the headline "Dog sees car hit and kill owner on sidewalk and walks home alone, Virginia cops say."