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Florida Man Killed in Freak Car Accident — And Police Say a Dog Is to Blame

Jan. 17, 2013 3:48pm Jason Howerton

Florida Man Killed by Boxer Bulldog in Freak Car Accident

shutterstock.com

Florida Highway Patrol says a man was killed in a freak car accident after a dog jumped into a van, stepped on the accelerator and hit him as he opened a gate outside a home in Cantonment, Fla. on Monday.

Iris Fortner, 56, and James Campbell, 68, were reportedly backing into their driveway at their home when Campbell got out of the passenger side to open a metal gate, according to officials. Fortner, who was driving the 1995 Chevy van, opened the driver’s door to see where Campbell was standing.

That’s when Fortner’s large boxer bull dog jumped into the van and inadvertently pressed on the accelerator, backing into Campbell. Fortner told police he tried to stop the vehicle before it struck Campbell, but he was trapped under the van.

Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene by Escambia County paramedics. Fortner was also reportedly injured in the accident.

Authorities are still investigating the incident, but have filed no charges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

(H/T: Gawker)

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Comments (50)

Jake Dog2
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:44pm
Why was the car in gear?? When all else fails blame the dog. I get blamed all the time.

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pwatkins
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:30pm
Bull dogs definitely fall under the assault dogs ban now.

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- Armed Patriot
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 6:57am
  It is a boxer, not a bull dog. Totally different breeds. Reporters are the stupidest people. Its like a large cap clip.
  
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- txannie
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 10:58pm
  @armed patriot…I heard they decided to include the boxer in the “bully breeds” now that they are using them to cross with the pitts, staffordshires, presa canarias, etc. Dog fighters are ruining an awful lot of good dog breeds and making some really dangerous dogs.
  
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thequeenbee
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:39pm
Require all dogs over 20 lbs to have special training and behavior in and around cars, Vet verified. All large dog owners must register and have a background check on their dog if it weighs more than 20 lbs. If dog is not trained, they are banned from being in and around all cars. Paw prints must be taken at time of registration. If you don’t comply either your dog or your car will be confiscated, take your pick. Prayers for the family of the man who was killed. Not out loud though, that’s not allowed.

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- Lachoneous
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 11:48am
  Don’t forget stricter leash laws. As an assault dog, he must be limited to a 7 foot leash. No more 10 feet of freedom for these menaces.
  
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AzThunder
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:20pm
what was barbara boxer doing in Florida…? ;)

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- Whitey4West
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:47pm
  Probably voting in an election…
  
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- QuincySmith
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:49pm
  She was there with her bull.
  
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- deadend
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 9:59am
  barking up the wrong tree or mabe in a ******* contest at the same tree
  
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Jarhead 88
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:13pm
Who let the dog out?

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- Jake Dog2
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 10:02pm
  No who let the man out?
  
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The-Monk
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 5:38pm
Basic rule of thumb…. 101.

Never open a car door when the car is in reverse.

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- Warphead
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 4:31am
  How about a better rule. How about you never open the door when the car is in gear, period. The dog doesn’t know what he did or what happened, but I bet he misses his master. When my father passed from cancer his dog knew. He quit eating and died three days later.
  
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rafa2design
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 5:36pm
Blaze could have used a less funny picture for this article… I couldn’t stop laughing.

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- Frederick_Douglass_Republican
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 10:10pm
  Thats a thug dog if I ever saw one! Cute.
  
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ellietoo
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 5:03pm
I find this a bit hard to believe. Sure, blame it on the dog! The one who cannot speak to defend himself.

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GoodStuff
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:56pm
You might want to question Iris.

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- CABERNETQHS
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 11:01am
  He’s probably still ticked off his parents named him Iris.
  
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Grandma T
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:56pm
Fishy story. Who gets away from the wheel without first putting the car in Park?

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- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:56pm
  Yup
  
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- G-WHIZ
  Posted on January 18, 2013 at 11:44am
  Who leaves a vehicle running with an animal inside?!…unless he/she/it wants name-in-MSM-NON-NEWS!!
  
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spfoam1
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:27pm
In a swift reaction to this tragedy, Obama just signed a new executive order. All dogs are to be taken to the nearest restaurant for processing.

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:26pm
Police might want to check to see if Campbell had any large life insurance policies left in “Iris’” name. Why didn’t Fortner roll down the window to check? The story doesn’t say whether the gate was opened or not, but I assume the dog was inside. I think Fortner and his dog had this planned out.

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blanco5
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:25pm
Wow, when it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go. But to die by man’s best friend has to be a horrible way!

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- Vickie Dhaene
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 6:00pm
  Sadly I know someone who lost her mother after she was run over by garbage truck backing up on her. So very sad.
  
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bannedfromCNN
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:23pm
Will Barry surround himself with tasty dogs at his next photo op?

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TooManyStupidFolksInTheUSA
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:21pm
maybe the dog just didn’t like him! Perfect example…you don’t need a gun to kill someone.

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lassiegirldawn
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:20pm
Ok now killer dogs using cars. We must put into legislation that dogs are too dangerous to drive cars, because they kill people. Do we ban vehicles or ban dogs driving vehicles?

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jackact
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:18pm
The dog has same expression on his face as Obama.
Guilty.

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- SaturdaysWarrior76
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:56pm
  I’m sorry I know this is a tragic story and all but your comment just made me crack up! Oh my gosh now I feel awful. (but LOL).
  
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am123
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:17pm
“That’s when Fortner’s large boxer bull dog jumped into the van and inadvertently pressed on the accelerator, backing into Campbell.”

And just how do they know it was inadvertent? :)

If it was inadvertent, will they charge him with dogslaugter?

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krjones
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:15pm
If it will save one life, we must ban all dogs.

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omgfolks
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:14pm
DOG CONTROL, every owner should be given a backround check, collars should be limited, food should be rationed and owners should have their name in the paper. These dangerous thing need regulating to stop them from driving over their owners and helpless humans. Sure blame it on the dog!

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ALL4FREEDOM
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:11pm
Um – for the accident to have occurred as described, the vehicle would have to have been left in ‘drive’. So don’t blame the dog. Submit this for a Darwin Award – just thinning the herd, folks.

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- Le Sellers
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:33pm
  Iris is 56. Even if she hasn’t had any children, she would not be “in the gene pool” anymore anyway.
  
  Mr. O’bama, will there ever BE any Jobs?
  
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- ALL4FREEDOM
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:46pm
  Valid point, but still theoretically possible. Look at Elton John.
  
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SaturdaysWarrior76
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:07pm
What a tragic story!

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LakeHartwellSailor
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 3:53pm
Ban the dog.

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- Obama Snake Oil Co
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 4:02pm
  At least do a background check and a mental evaluation. I think the dog was nuts!
  
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chips1
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 3:53pm
If the government can’t stop unlicensed dogs from driving, how are they going to stop all the murders from occuring in Chicago?

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MrButcher
Posted on January 17, 2013 at 3:51pm
Where’s Momo?

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