A Richland County Sheriff’s Office (SC) K-9 was fatally struck by a vehicle during an early-morning pursuit when his leash broke, and he pulled away from his handler. K9 Wick was a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois with RCSD for a year-and-a-half.

According to the sheriff’s department, deputies located a stolen van around 1 a.m. Thursday and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused.

The pursuit continued onto I-77, deputies successfully deployed a spike strip, the van came to a stop, and the driver fled on foot. With the suspect still in sight, the K-9 was deployed.

“K-9 Specialist Abdullah and K-9 Wick were in pursuit of the suspect when K-9 Wick’s leash broke and Wick was able to pull away from K9 Specialist Abdullah. Wick continued in pursuit of the suspect, across the northbound side of I-77, when he was struck by a vehicle,” the department said in a social media post.

Sheriff Leon Lott explained to WIS10 that the leash broke when Wick jumped over the barrier cables on I-77 and hit the ground. The impact of the jump caused his leash to come apart.

“Our dogs have the best equipment.,” Lott said. “It was the perfect storm.”

K9 Wick succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Thursday afternoon deputies held a funeral procession and carried K-9 Wick draped under a US flag.

The driver of the vehicle that struck K9 Wick was identified and the South Carolina Highway Patrol will lead the investigation into the collision.

Several surrounding agencies responded to assist in the search for the suspect.