Authorities have identified the driver of a vehicle caught on camera running over a small, elderly stray dog, causing its death, in an area of Gastouni, western Greece. The information was reported by Greek newspaper Nea, which states that the suspect is a 60-year-old resident of Gastouni, who was located by police as part of an investigation launched after the video was made public and a formal complaint was filed with the Pineios Police Department.
The incident occurred on June 18 and was recorded by a security camera. In the footage, a vehicle can be seen approaching the spot where the dog was resting, slowing down and coming to a stop in front of the animal, before moving again moments later and driving directly over it, killing it.
Gastouni: When was the driver identified for allegedly running over the dog with her car?
According to information from Nea, the 60-year-old was identified as a suspect by the Hellenic Police on June 20, just two days after the incident. The woman was questioned by officers from the Pineios Police Department handling the case and reportedly gave a series of contradictory statements during her interview — details that are now being assessed as part of the preliminary investigation.
She is expected to be formally summoned for questioning in the coming days, and according to the same report, she is set to be charged with the intentional killing of an animal. The security camera footage proved crucial to the investigation, as did the public response following the video’s circulation online.
It is worth noting that under Greek Law 4830/2021, the killing of an animal constitutes a felony, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine ranging from €30,000 to €50,000.
The elderly stray dog had lived in that particular neighborhood of Gastouni for more than twenty years and was cared for by local residents, who describe the animal as an inseparable part of their daily lives.
