Calif. Deputy Sheriff and K-9 Left Dangling from Cliff After Patrol Car is Hit by Drunk Driver

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said both Deputy Castaneda and his K-9 partner Danny were injured in the incident, which happened on Saturday night

<p>Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter</p> Dept. Castaneda and his K-9 partner Danny after the collision

Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter

Dept. Castaneda and his K-9 partner Danny after the collision

A California sheriff's deputy and his K-9 partner were left dangling from a cliff after his patrol car was hit by an allegedly drunk driver.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said that the incident occurred on Saturday night around 8:40 p.m. local time when deputy Castaneda was responding to a call for service near the seafood restaurant Neptune’s Net in regards to a “suspicious subject 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 which was traveling northbound on PCH,” the sheriff’s office said in a post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Upon impact, Deputy Castaneda’s vehicle veered off the roadway, became airborne, and landed on the large boulders near the shoreline below.”

The deputy was transported to Ventura County Medical Center following the incident with “non-life threatening injuries.”

<p>Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter</p> The deputy's patrol car was left dangling off a cliff on the PCH

Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter

The deputy's patrol car was left dangling off a cliff on the PCH

His K-9 partner, Danny, a 2-year-old Dutch Shepherd, suffered a minor cut to 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 lodged on some rocks above the water.

<p>Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter</p> The incident happened on Saturday night

Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter

The incident happened on Saturday night

Additional photos also showed the deputy being treated in the back of an ambulance with his canine companion by his side.

Following medical treatment, the driver of the white sedan was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, according to authorities.

The driver, who is currently on probation for a DUI, was later booked at the Ventura County Main Jail for felony DUI, the sheriff’s office added in their post. 

<p>Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter</p> Deputy Castaneda and Dutch Shepherd Danny

Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter

Deputy Castaneda and Dutch Shepherd Danny

In a statement shared on Facebook, the sheriff’s office said that the cause of the collision is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

They also added that they were "so very grateful" that deputy Castaneda and Danny "weren’t more seriously injured."

<p>Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter</p> The damaged patrol car

Ventura County Sheriff/Twitter

The damaged patrol car

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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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