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Teen Arrested For Cattle Drive Hit-And-Run

LOOMIS, Calif. (CBS13) -- Deputies arrested a Camptonville teen for allegedly barreling through a cattle drive in his vehicle, striking several cows and severely injuring a dog.

Sierra County Sheriff's deputies arrested 19-year-old Justin Philip Lombardobarton for assault with a deadly weapon and animal cruelty for allegedly deliberately steering his Jeep into a herd of cattle.

Cattle owner John Reader said there was little warning and no time to react during the cattle drive early this week.

"All of a sudden. He took his steering wheel and whipped it around and accelerated," John said in a Wednesday interview.

Lombardobarton narrowly missed several riders on horseback and struck several cows before running over a border collie named Maggie, critically injuring her, authorities said.

""I heard the first wheel hit and I heard the second wheel hit, and I was just shocked," John said. "This is cruelty at its worst."

The suspect fled from the scene immediately after the incident, investigators said.

Maggie's legs were broken and she suffered severe internal injuries, requiring three hours of surgery to save her life, according to Dr. Michael Dearmin.

"Her stomach and spleen and some of her abdominal organs were up in her chest cavity," Dr. Dearmin said.

Lombardobarton is being held at the Sierra County jail. He could face additional charges for the incident.

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