By Karen Morfitt

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)– An Aurora man is devastated after he says a driver struck and badly injured his dog, then sped away.

Eric Hershman says his 18-month-old English Bull Terrier, Brutus, is lucky to be alive.

“I’m running around the street just screaming, hysterical,” said Hershman.

He had just returned home near Troy and East Nevada on Tuesday night. He was standing outside his SUV and Brutus was on a leash by his side when a dark-colored truck came barreling around a curve.

“I noticed they were going a bit fast and maybe hugging the inside lane,” said Hershman.

He yelled at the driver to slow down but said that wasn’t what happened. Instead he claims the driver accelerated and started heading straight for him.

“I pushed my body back up against the car and held Brutus as close as I could,” said Hershman.

Unfortunately, one of Brutus’s hind legs was clipped and shattered in several places. Hershman rushed him to the vet hospital, worried he may not make it.

“I was certain he was going to die after getting hit like that from such a large truck,” said Hershman.

Brutus had emergency surgery that night and will have a long road to recovery.

Hershman said that’s where his focus is right now but he hopes one day to find the person responsible.

“My biggest concern is that he’s okay, but if anyone had seen or knows anything about this I definitely would love if they could turn that information over to the Aurora Police Department,” said Hershman.

Hershman said the unexpected trip to the veterinarian has been extremely costly.

Anyone who wants to help with Brutus’s recovery can visit the GoFundMe page set up in his name.

Karen Morfitt Joined the CBS4 team as a reporter in 2013. She covers a variety of stories in and around metro Denver. Connect with her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter @karenmorfitt or email her tips.