Search on for dog missing since Thanksgiving crash

MORRISTOWN A Hopatcong man remained hospitalized Monday and one of his dogs was missing after a Thanksgiving Day drunk-driving crash, police said.

The accident was reported at 6:49 p.m. Thursday. Brandon Dill, 31, of Hopatcong, was driving a 2008 Toyota Camry south on Route 287 prior to leaving the highway at Exit 36 for Ridgedale Avenue, according to Morristown Fire Chief Robert Flanagan.

The Camry veered off the roadway on an elevated plane, becoming airborne and crashing into a fence at 73 Ridgedale Ave., Flanagan said.

The airborne Camry then hit a parked minivan, flipping upside down and coming to a stop on the lawn of 69 Ridgedale Ave., Flanagan said.

The Camry also struck and damaged a guardrail and light pole on its way off the roadway, State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said.

To get the driver out, firefighters had to remove the side door and mid-panel of the upside down car while smoke was coming out of the engine. Dill was taken to Morristown Medical Center to be treated for his injuries, Flynn said.

"When we took him out he was coherent, speaking," Flanagan said. "He did not appear to have any major injuries but I'm not a doctor."

Dill was in good condition Monday, according to Atlantic Health spokesperson Rob Semen. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended.

Flynn said the Exit 35 ramp was shut down Thursday night at 7:01 p.m. due to the accident.

A dog was removed from the passenger side of the Camry and handed over to Animal Control, Flynn said.

Morristown's on-call Animal Control officer Karen Negrin said the dog was a pit bull, and Flanagan said the dog appeared to be fine at the scene.

"The driver later claimed there was another dog but searches have been negative," Flynn said.

Flanagan said firefighters only saw one dog on the scene.

"I don't know if the other dog ran out of the car after the crash or not," Flanagan said. "When we asked the driver if there were any other occupants in the vehicle he said no, didn't mention the dogs. We just happened to see the dog when we were taking him out."

Negrin said she is searching for a second dog that was in the car. She could not be reached for comment Monday but posted updates on Facebook Sunday afternoon.

The missing dog is a female black and white Boston Terrier named Rogue, according to Negrin, who has spoken with Dill's wife and posted a picture of Rogue on her Facebook page. The post has been shared more than 1,600 times as of Monday afternoon.

"Rogue was seen by the home owner where the accident occurred at the time of the accident," read the post. "The dog was hit by a car and ran from the scene. We are now looking for an injured dog."

Later Sunday afternoon, Negrin said the dog was spotted near Ridgedale Lunch at the corner of Ridgedale Avenue and Abbett Avenue.

Negrin also said she has been posting flyers of the dog in the surrounding area. The dog has a microchip for identification, she added.

Dill's wife Vicki was also commenting on the thread, updating people on the search for her dog.

"I put out her crate, blanket food bowl and stinky shoes - she loves to chew our shoes - on a porch near the last reported sighting (Abbett and Ridgedale) hoping she will go to a 'safe place,'" read one update.

Negrin noted the couple has kids who are "devastated" that their dog is missing.

Negrin asks that anyone who sees Rogue call Morristown police at 973-538-2200 or State Police at 973-347-1001. Negrin said she would then be contacted and reunite the dog with her owners.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com