Marietta Police K-9 Struck by Car, Dies

K-9 Inja was hit by a 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette at 7:07 a.m. Monday. Inja died at the scene.

K-9 Officer R. Figueroa had stopped at the common play area at the Oakwind Subdivision on Antioch Road to allow Inja to take a break from being in the car.

Pamela Seed, of Kennesaw, was traveling southbound on Antioch Road in an Oldsmobile. As the Oldsmobile passed the entrance to Oakwind, Inja entered the roadway and was struck by the front driver's side.

Inja was with the Marietta Police Department for about a year and was two or three years old, Police spokesman David Baldwin said.

Figueroa was paired with the narcotic and tracking dog when the K-9 started at the department.

"It was just an unfortunate, horrible accident," Baldwin said. "I only met him a couple of times, but it was obvious he was a very, very friendly K-9."

Inja was one of three K-9s at the Marietta Police Department.

The S.T.E.P. Unit is investigating the collision. It is still uncertain how Inja got out of the enclosed play area and into the road.