A K9 handler and his police dog have been released from hospital and they are recovering at home following Sunday’s collision at Main and Terminal, as is the driver of the other vehicle involved.

Just before 4:00 p.m. on April 21, the officer was responding to a 9-1-1 call when the collision occurred. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage, but thanks to advanced vehicle structural designs, the occupants were well protected and suffered only minor injuries.

The police dog riding in the rear kennel area was protected by the side curtain air bags, which, according to the handler, “Deployed perfectly.”

The Vancouver Police Department updated the fleet of K9 specific vehicles in 2011. One of the most notable changes was the ability to have side curtain airbags for the kennel area. It was originally planned to remove the side air bags as they would not deploy properly around the kennel, but the supply company was able to fabricate the kennels to accommodate the air bags, which proved vital in ensuring the VPD police dog survived Sunday’s collision.

The VPD Collision Investigation Unit is investigating to determine the cause of the crash.