Dog who helped police Queen's funeral dies in crash

Dog who helped police Queen's funeral dies in crash

A tragic incident involving a police dog named PD Bert, who participated in Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, has resulted in his untimely death. The five-year-old springer spaniel, a member of Cleveland Police’s dog support unit, was involved in a car crash in Hartlepool at around 21:00 BST on Thursday. Alongside another dog and an officer, PD Bert was in a vehicle that collided with a BMW, leading to serious injuries.

Following the collision, both dogs were taken to the vet for medical attention. Unfortunately, due to the severity of his injuries, PD Bert had to be euthanized, as confirmed by the police force. Despite the tragic loss of PD Bert, the other dog involved in the crash emerged unscathed, while the officer sustained minor injuries in the incident.

A 33-year-old man was arrested in connection with the crash and subsequently charged with drink driving. However, the police are still conducting a detailed investigation to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the collision. The suspect has been released on bail and is scheduled to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on August 1 for further legal proceedings.

Having served Cleveland Police as a skilled sniffer dog for three-and-a-half years, PD Bert was highly regarded for his exceptional ability to detect drugs, cash, and firearms. The force commended him for a notable accomplishment in locating £250,000 during a single search. PD Bert, along with his canine companion and their dedicated police handler, was on duty responding to an emergency situation when the tragic crash took place. In a poignant moment, PD Bert was on duty in London in September 2022 as part of the security measures during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession, which drew an estimated one million spectators to the city

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