Associated Press

TACOMA – Authorities say firefighters in Washington state rammed through a driveway gate to save a delivery driver who was being mauled by pit bulls.

The News Tribune newspaper reported the UPS driver was delivering a package to a house in the South Hill area, near Tacoma, on Wednesday when the dogs backed him against a trailer.

The driver called 911 and used his belt to try to fend off the animals. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office says that when Orting firefighters arrived, a relative of the dogs’ owner refused to unlock the gate at the end of the driveway.

County animal control supervisor Brian Boman says the responders rammed the driveway gate and drove to the victim, who climbed into the emergency vehicle through an open window.

The driver was taken to a hospital to be treated for bites to his hands, arms and legs.

The pit bulls have been quarantined.