Gordo, the Maltese-mix who was struck by a white van involved in a high-speed pursuit in South LA last week, will be leaving the hospital Tuesday and be heading home, hospital officials said.
Gordo was being cared for at the Access Specialty Animal Hospital after one of his hind legs was sliced by a van’s rim during Wednesday’s chase. Initially it was feared that Gordo may have needed to amputate his right hind leg, however in part because of donations from across the country, veterinarians at the Culver City hospital were able to perform the expensive surgery and save his leg.
Gordo’s owner, Santos Son, is expected to pick up Gordo from the hospital Tuesday morning.
Gordo’s leg was injured when 21-year-old Yovani Rodriguez led authorities on a 30-minute, televised police pursuit through South Los Angeles after California Highway Patrol officers spotted a stolen Chevorlet Astro van near Manchester and Central avenues on Sept. 17.
Rodriguez was charged and convicted of one felony count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly, and driving or taking a vehicle without consent, as well as one misdemeanor count of hit-and-run driving resulting in property damage. He was sentenced to two years in prison Friday.
