Baywatch Star David Charvet Accused in Fatal Dog Hit-and-Run Incident
Former Baywatch star David Charvet has been accused of striking and killing a dog with his pickup truck in a hit-and-run incident that occurred on Thursday morning in Los Angeles. The 53-year-old actor allegedly hit the dog while driving in a gated community in Malibu, according to initial reports.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The dog's owner, Vera Errico, was walking her three dogs in the Malibu community when the incident occurred. Errico claims that Charvet did not stop after the collision, leading her and her husband to rush their injured dog to a veterinarian, where the animal had to be euthanized. The deceased dog, named Sunday, was an 11-year-old white English Labrador.
Errico and her husband subsequently filed a report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office regarding what they described as a hit-and-run incident. However, law enforcement sources have provided conflicting information about whether Charvet stopped or contacted authorities after the accident.
Conflicting Accounts from Authorities
The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Department told People Magazine that the incident appears to have been accidental, stating: "It sounds like it was accidental and that the dogs were off leash and ran into the roadway. [Charvet] tried to swerve to avoid hitting them."
TMZ, which first reported the story, cited a law enforcement source who claimed that Charvet did contact police after the incident occurred. This would mean authorities do not consider it a hit-and-run case, even if the actor wasn't physically present at the scene immediately afterward. A deputy has since visited the dog owner's family to take a traffic collision report and investigate whether the dog was on a leash at the time of the accident.
Charvet's Response and Career Background
When contacted by TMZ about the allegations, Charvet offered a "no comment" regarding the incident. Metro has also reached out to the actor's representative for comment. Charvet disputes Errico's claim that the dog was on a leash, maintaining that he swerved to avoid hitting the animal.
David Charvet rose to fame in the 1990s playing high schooler Matt Brody on the popular lifeguard series Baywatch. During the show's peak popularity, the French actor dated co-star Pamela Anderson for two years. After leaving Baywatch in 1995, he went on to star as Craig Field in Melrose Place.
Ongoing Investigation and Media Attention
An investigation into the incident is currently pending, with authorities working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the dog's death. The case has attracted significant media attention due to Charvet's celebrity status and the emotional nature of the allegations involving a family pet.
Metro has contacted both the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office and David Charvet's representative for additional comments on the developing story. The conflicting accounts between the dog owner and law enforcement sources highlight the complexity of determining what exactly occurred during Thursday morning's tragic event in Malibu.
