A DOG has died after being thrown from a car in a dramatic four-vehicle crash.

Eyewitnesses said the elderly driver of a red Citroen C3 courtesy car appeared to lose control of the vehicle as it turned into George Street, Devonport, at around 1.20pm yesterday.mon.

They described seeing the Citroen drive around the corner of George Street before being in collision with a black Ford Focus and rebounding on to a Ford Fiesta and Mondeo.

It then ended up on its side.

A dog, thought to belong to the driver of the Citroen, was thrown from the car.

"It was a nightmare," said Annette Deschenes, who saw the accident unfold. "The car flew around the roundabout and went up in the air about 10 or 15 feet.

"I just don't know how he survived it.

"There was a dog in the car but it ended up in the road."

Ms Deschenes said she and a group of other bystanders ran over to help both the man and the animal but when she tried to move the dog, it bit her.

"I was bitten on the arm," she said. "I'm bruised but OK; it's not the dog's fault."

She added that the long-haired black or brown mongrel dog was called Bella and wearing a collar and a lead.

Another witness to the incident said he was amazed that the driver had not been killed.

"The driver walked into an ambulance," said the local resident, who did not want to be named. "I don't know how, but he did.

Two fire crews from Camels Head attended the scene and made the vehicles safe.

Police said the driver was not thought to have serious injuries and was described as 'walking wounded'. The spokesman said he was taken to Derriford Hospital for treatment and the courtesy car was towed away.

George Street was closed while glass and debris were cleared away from the crash scene, and the road re-opened at 3.50pm.

The police spokesman later said the dog, which had been taken to a vet, had died.