A small dog is lucky to be alive after falling from an overpass into a creek.
It happened Sunday around 3:30 p.m. in Westville, New Jersey. NJDOT was contacted after the animal was spotted running around an overpass on Route 295 southbound.
Facing the oncoming traffic, authorities say the frightened dog jumped off the overpass and landed in Big Timber Creek, 20 feet below.
NJDOT notified The Westville Fire Department. Westville called the Bellmawr Fire Company for help.
Bellmawr’s marine unit soon arrived on the scene and located the dog on a muddy spot in the middle of the creek where it was able to stand. The rescue crew then managed to get the dog to come into their boat.
While the dog did not have a tag, Bellmawr Fire Chief Jim Burleigh says the dog was wearing a sweater, indicating that it had an owner.
Burleigh says fire crews were able to locate the dog's owner and New Jersey State Police safely returned the animal early Monday morning.
