Car Bites Dog - Dog Crashes Car

LONDON, Dec 21, 2002; Reuters reports that British television presenter Johnny Vaughan says his pet dog crashed his sports car in a bizarre accident, the Sun newspaper reported on Saturday.

The tabloid said Vaughan's bulldog nudged his 60,000-pound ($96,180) Maserati into gear and stepped on the accelerator -- sending it flying into a van.

"I was too shocked to be angry," Vaughan, who presents a BBC chat show, was quoted as saying in the tabloid. "I couldn't believe my dog crashed my car."

The 36-year-old said the crash happened after he stopped to check on his dog Harvey as he drove him home from a veterinarian's practice in southwest London.

With the engine still running, Vaughan got out of the car and walked round to the passenger's side, where the dog was sitting.

It was then Harvey leapt on the controls, causing 11,000 pounds of damage, Vaughan said.

"I've forgiven Harvey, but he's never coming in the car again," Vaughan told the paper. He could not be reached for comment.