A collision involving a Ventura County Sheriff’s K-9 unit and another vehicle sent two people to the hospital Saturday evening.
The crash happened on the Pacific Coast Highway near Deer Creek Road at about 8:40 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The location is roughly midway between Malibu and Oxnard.
According to the CHP, the speeding driver of a white Mercedes was seen traveling into oncoming traffic shortly before the collision.
Video from the scene shows fire crews working to extricate the driver of the badly damaged Mercedes, which was facing southbound in northbound lanes of Highway 1.
The impact of the collision sent the Ventura County Sheriff’s SUV, which was carrying Deputy Castaneda and his K-9 partner “Danny,” over the side of the road and onto rocks next to the ocean.
A Ventura County Sheriff K9 unit is seen on rocks next to the ocean following a collision on Dec. 16, 2023. (RMG News) 
The crash scene involving a white sedan and a sheriff’s K9 unit in Ventura County, California on Dec. 16, 2023. (RMG News) 
Firefighters work to free the driver of a suspected DUI crash in Ventura County, California on Dec. 16, 2023. (RMG News)(RMG Media)
The driver of the Mercedes and the deputy were transported to Ventura County Medical Center.
The deputy was treated for minor injuries while the condition of the other driver was not immediately known, a CHP spokesman said. Danny sustained a cut to his face, the VCSO added.
Authorities believe the sedan’s driver was under the influence.
That driver, who was already on probation for DUI, was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on a new DUI charge.
