Incredible moment guide dog saves his handlers by alerting them to a runaway car seconds before it barrels into their path

A guide dog saved the lives of two of its trainers by alerting them to an out-of-control car speeding towards them on the pavement.

The 18-month-old Labrador O'Neil was being taken on a field test in San Rafael, California, when he suddenly stopped and swivelled his head to look behind him.

That prompted veteran training supervisor Todd Jurek to glance round to see a black car reversing straight at them.

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Oblivious: A guide dog is walked along a pavement by two handlers who are unaware a car is racing towards them Alert: The 18-month Labrador O'Neil jerks his head back after hearing the oncoming vehicle In danger: O'Neil's training supervisor Todd Jurek turned round to see a black car reversing straight at them

Mr Jurek then had just enough time to grab his blindfolded apprentice instructor, Danielle Alvarado, and drag her round the corner to safety as the car barrelled past.

Mr Jurek, who works for Guide Dogs for the Blind, told ABC7: 'I think the dog looked before I did.

'I don't know what it would have done if I were not there, so you never know.'

The car left skid marks along the side of a building and somehow managed to squeeze all the way down the pavement.

Evasive action: Mr Jurek grabs his apprentice instructor, who is blindfolded as part of the test, and drags her round the corner to safety

Out-of-control: The car, driven by a 93-year-old woman, reverse along the pavement where they were walking

It is not known how the driver, a 93-year-old woman, lost control.

Police are still investigating the incident, but have already called for the driver to undergo a re-examination at the DMV, according to gawker .



O'Neil still has a final test to take, but according to Mr Jurek that shouldn't be a problem.

'You can't train a dog for such a dramatic incident,' he said.

O'Neil is expected to find a home within the next two to three weeks.

Guide Dogs for the Blind breeds and trains around 300 puppies each year for blind and visually impaired people across the country .

Phew: The near-miss as seen from a different surveillance camera in the street in San Rafael, California