A loose animal is responsible for causing a vehicle wreck late Thursday afternoon on Old Warsaw Road, just outside of Clinton, according to officials with the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Reports show that around 4:30 p.m., a 55-year-old Turkey man was traveling east on his gas-powered scooter when a dog ran out in front of him. The man, Joe Willis Sellars, 55, of Old Warsaw Road, could not avoid the animal and struck it, causing him to be ejected from the scooter.

After Sellars flew off the bike, the two-wheeled vehicle kept its momentum and traveled into oncoming traffic. The scooter eventually ran directly into a van, owned by Star Telephone, and driven by Johnny Ray Jackson, 31, of Lake Artesia Road, Faison, causing minimal damage.

The dog, whose owner was not known, suffered minor injuries. Sellars was rushed toSampson Regional Medical Center, suffering from “obvious” injuries, but no broken bones, officials said. He was treated and later released.

No other injuries were reported, however traffic was backed up for about an hour.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or email to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.