A 44-year-old woman was taken before a prosecutor after her car fatally injured a dog in the village of Avliotes on the Greek island of Corfu, but was later released.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday and was captured by a security camera. The footage shows the driver traveling along the road and encountering a dog lying in the roadway.

The woman initially appears to slow down, but then drives over the animal, fatally injuring it.

The incident sparked reactions and prompted complaints to police. Officers from the Northern Corfu Police Department subsequently identified and arrested the 44-year-old driver.

Driver says she did not intend to hit the dog

According to Greek broadcaster SKAI, the driver told authorities that she had not intended to run over the animal.

A case file was opened against her, and she was brought before the competent prosecutor to provide an explanation.

Following the prosecutorial proceedings, she was released. The case will proceed to trial, while the administrative fines provided for under the law were imposed on her.

The case file remains under investigation, and judicial authorities will determine whether the driver will be formally called to provide a defense, referred for trial or whether the case will be closed.

Animal welfare group raises concerns

Martha Poultidou, head of the Panhellenic Animal Abuse Prevention Group, also commented on the case.

She said the dog had been found before 2011 and had become the companion of an elderly woman. According to Poultidou, the driver later went to the family and said she had found the animal injured by a car and moved it to the side of the road.

Poultidou alleged that the account was an attempt to establish an alibi because the driver did not know there was a security camera recording the incident.