A 60-year-old woman in Gastouni, western Greece, has been fined €50,000 for killing a stray dog after driving over it — an incident captured on video and widely shared online, sparking public outrage. The administrative penalty was officially imposed on 26 June 2026 for the animal’s death. The woman, identified by Greek police as the driver involved, has been summoned to give statements to investigators handling the case in Gastouni.
Investigation Ongoing, Case May Proceed as Felony
The file is now expected to be reviewed by the competent public prosecutor, who will decide whether criminal charges should proceed. Under Greek law, intentional cruelty to animals resulting in death may constitute a felony (kakourgioma), carrying more serious penalties than misdemeanours.
Incident Occurred on 18 June in Gastouni’s Station Area
The incident took place on the evening of 18 June in the ‘Station’ area of Gastouni. Video footage shows a vehicle stopping briefly in front of the dog — which was standing on the road — before moving forward seconds later and striking it fatally. Police quickly identified the driver as a local 60-year-old woman, and a formal investigation has since been launched.
Defence Claims It Was an Unintentional Accident
The woman’s lawyer, Thodoris Antonopoulos, told newsit.gr that his client did not act with intent and had in fact tried to avoid harming the animal. According to him, she was driving at night with her sister and a friend when she noticed a small dog on the road and immediately stopped to let it pass safely.
“She believed the animal had moved away safely and then resumed driving at very low speed,” Antonopoulos explained. “Tragically, without realising it, the dog ended up under the vehicle’s left wheels and was dragged.”
He added that neither the driver nor her passengers realised what had happened at the time. “She thought she’d driven over a stone or a piece of debris,” he said. One of the passengers reportedly joked: “Antonia, today you didn’t even leave a pothole behind” — underscoring their collective lack of awareness.
The woman only learned the full extent of what occurred when her son, who lives in Germany, contacted her after seeing the video circulating online.