visual trauma

I was coming into St. Louis today on the westbound freeway bridge (which if you know the Mississippi River, you know this isn't a short bridge, and there's barely a shoulder) and this dog dragging a leash still on its collar was wandering across traffic! We're all going at least 50 - me and a few other cars barely managed to stop in time to avoid hitting him. So confused and scared, he runs across the rest of traffic instead of going back toward the rail ... and right in front of this van that couldn't stop in time AND THE FRONT TIRE ROLLED THE DOG OVER AND OVER AND SPUN HIM AROUND REPEATEDLY IN FRONT OF IT AS THE DRIVER TRIED TO SLOW AND STOP. I saw it all in my rear mirror and was trying not to veer into other lanes. I would've stopped, but traffic was heavy, and at least I saw the van pull to the tiny shoulder and stop, and somebody getting out to check on the dog. I hope it was OK, since the van didn't run OVER him.

But what the eff was a dog with a leash doing out that far in busy city traffic, far from any businesses or stopping places? Did somebody push him out? Did he jump out? I felt sorry for that van driver too. What about the dog's owner if they simply lost the dog?

*throws up a little*