A bus driver swerves at speed around a fatally-wounded dog in the middle of the road

Police have arrested a 52-year-old man for failing to stop after fatally hitting a dog in Hung Shui Kiu on 2 August, while shocking internet footage of the incident shows a total of 27 drivers, including cars, trucks, buses and motorbikes, ignoring the plight of the animal in the centre of the road.

Video released by police showed the man’s silver seven-seater car striking the dog on Tin Ha Road at speed, barely slowing down.

The dog was dragged around six metres under the car and left for dead in the centre of the road.

The medium-sized slim white dog tried to rise but collapsed. Over the following two minutes, four vehicles in that lane swerved around the dog, while around four passed the scene in the opposite direction with no driver stopping

Three minutes after the collision, the original driver, who police will not name, returned to the scene, stopping the car ahead of the dog, and checking only the front of his car. The driver did not approach the dog.

As he stopped another car swerved around the dog without stopping.

The driver then left again.

A taxi then drove over the unfortunate animal, dragging it a further few metres. The taxi stopped and two passengers alighted.

Many more vehicles, including a double-decker bus, swerved around the dog at speed while the two taxi passengers approached on foot.

The taxi drove off, while one of the passengers stopped traffic and the other attended to the dog, lifting it carefully and placing it gently on the pavement.

The two taxi passengers then left on foot.

Police say they arrested the driver seen first hitting the dog for three offences: careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report the collision to the police.

Last November the government added dogs and cats to the list of animals protected under traffic law.

Any motorist who strikes and causes injury to any animal, including cats, dogs, horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats or asses, must stop, and must also provide information to police or those who reasonably request it. The drivers must also report the incident to the police within 24 hours.

The law is designed to protect animals and make sure they receive timely treatment, police say.

Any driver failing to stop after an accident is liable to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for 12 months, while failing to provide particulars and report the incident to police within 24 hours is liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months, the government says.