Driver cited on DUI, loses dog in Modesto canal

A 26-year-old man lost his dog and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing into a Modesto canal Wednesday night.

The crash occurred at about 7 p.m. on Briggsmore Avenue west of McHenry Avenue.

Michael Renke, of Modesto, was driving east when he lost control of his pickup truck and hit two cars before rolling and landing in the dry canal, said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves.

He was briefly trapped inside the pickup and firefighters had to pry open the door to get him out.

Renke’s brown, Chihuahua-looking dog was in the truck at the time of the crash and escaped.

The dog ran around in the canal barking as his owner was strapped onto a backboard and then onto a ladder, which firefighters used to lift him out. When officers tried to capture the dog using a catch pole and blanket, he eluded them, eventually running through a tube in the canal.

Renke suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

Upon further investigation, officers learned Renke was under the influence, Graves said. Due to his injuries, he was cited for driving under the influence and released to the care of the hospital.

Graves did not know if anyone in the other two involved vehicles was injured.

Thursday afternoon, Graves said an animal control officer picked up a dog matching the description of Renke’s dog, which had injuries to its back end.

“We will make every effort to identify the owner,” she said.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Driver cited on DUI, loses dog in Modesto canal."