Three collarless dogs wandered onto a roadway following a two-vehicle crash at Jayne Avenue and El Dorado Street, prompting a California Highway Patrol officer to take extra precautions to keep the animals safe, the agency said on Thursday.

The officer, who was providing traffic control and investigating the collision, noticed the dogs approaching as evidence measurements were being taken. The dogs began playing near the roadway, creating a potential hazard.

Using quick thinking and situational awareness, the officer extended traffic control measures to protect the dogs, authorities said. All three were safely guided from the scene and returned home.

“Serving the public sometimes means protecting the unexpected,” the Coalinga-area CHP said on a social media post.

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