Man dies trying to help dog

[The Straight Story]

Man dies trying to help dog

TAMPA, FL - A 22-year-old Lakeland man who was trying to help a dog that he spotted in the road was struck and killed by a car Friday night.

The Florida Highway Patrol says John Christopher Morgan was eastbound on State Road 60 near County Line Road around 7:00 p.m. when he spotted a dog in the roadway.

He stopped his car and was walking across the eastbound lanes of SR 60 when he was hit by a car. That car was driven by 60-year-old James Borgiet of West Palm Beach. Morgan was thrown into the roadway. He died at the scene.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/mostpopular/story/Man-dies-trying-to-help-dog/wVhzvNmHgEup8pvN3yvkfA.cspx

[liberal N proud]

1. SR 60 is one busy road

[hlthe2b]

2. Tragic...there but for the grace... go I...

RIP, Mr. Morgan. I understand...

[The Stranger]

3. Animal lover/rescuer friend of mine parks her car across all lanes of traffic with flashing lights,

whenever she stops to assist an animal in need. People get annoyed, but they never hit her, her car, or the dog or cat.

[vadawg]

27. shes been lucky then, its a dangerous thing to do no matter how strongly you feel about the animals

[The Stranger]

34. I guess it depends upon how you do it. She does it with caution and seems to have no problems.

And there's a certain air of doing the right thing that trumps all. It's a good thing.

[Faygo Kid]

4. A good heart gone. Tragic.

Why this happens to the good people, and Rush walks out of a Hawaii hospital hale and hearty, is a mystery beyond comprehension.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. So very young!

:cry:

[marshall]

6. Anybody know what happened to the dog?

No mention in the article.

[Jamastiene]

9. I wanted to know the same thing.

Such a sad story.

[sandyj999]

7. So sad.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. How sad. It makes one believe that no good deed goes unpunished.

[BoneDaddy]

30. Or if we were honest...pretty stupid

I am all for helping animals in need, but I am not about to stop on a fucking highway to do so. What a shame.

[xchrom]

10. Recommend

[endless october]

11. people who put themselves at risk for animals are heroes.

sorry that this man was killed. kudos to him for what he tried to do.

[LeftyMom]

12. Jesus Christ, you do realize you just damned near killed me, right?

:scared:

[tonysam]

13. It was his dog, a pit bull mix named Jersey. The dog was hit but is alive.

Details:

John Christopher Morgan, 22, was buying some beer at a Plant City convenience store just after 7 p.m. when he saw his dog jump out of his car and run onto S.R. 60, according to his friend, Jason Braden.

The dog – a pitbull-cur mix named Jersey, who Morgan always called "Pup" – was hit by a car, Braden said.

So Morgan ran onto the road to get him, Braden said.

Morgan probably ignored the oncoming bus that, seconds later, would hit and kill him, Braden said.

"I know him long enough to know he saw the bus was coming," said Braden. "He would take the hit, but it was worth it for him for that dog. That dog was all he had."

More

[Rowdyboy]

14. Heartbreaking....

[pecwae]

15. Sadly recced.

[niyad]

16. heartbreaking. RIP, good soul.

[MadMaddie]

17. May the young man RIP!

The writer of the story doesn't tell us what happened to the dog. What is it about finishing a story that these writers don't get.

[tonysam]

19. See post 13. The dog is still alive. n/t

[MadMaddie]

23. Thanks!

He loved his dog and he gave his life for his dog....

[bullwinkle428]

18. For some of us, our pets are not LIKE our kids, they ARE our kids!

[roguevalley]

20. that dog would have died saving him and he died trying to save it.

I think he's a hero. God bless all of them.

[Vidar]

21. RIP Mr. Morgan.

[undeterred]

22. A friend's grandfather died when he swerved to avoid hitting a dog

on the highway. Fortunately he did not cause an accident.

[vadawg]

28. yup this i common, you should never swerve to avoid an animal

you are more likely to wipe yourself or another car if you are on the interstate, now if its an elk or moose then sure as hell swerve but for squirrels and cats etc dont even try...

[undeterred]

31. Deer you are supposed to just run into.

Intermediate between moose and dog size.

[vadawg]

32. depends on your vehicle and the road conditions and your speed

ive had times last year when i had no choice but to hit a deer, same as with cats and smaller animals you have to weigh the risks. better to hit a deer and write off your car then to swerve and hit the 18 wheeler and wipe out a family...

[Shell Beau]

24. So sad. I could see myself doing the same.

Not intentionally, of course, but panic sets in when you see your dog in the road. They just don't see the danger we see. His rescue went badly. May he RIP. Hopefully, the dog will survive.

[FarCenter]

25. Darwin award winner?

Hopefully he didn't leave a family.

[KittyWampus]

29. you might want to rethink that :-/

[AlienGirl]

26. A hero's death.

[bertman]

33. A woman was killed in our area just before Christmas when she stopped to help an injured cat.

Very sad.

R.I.P.