Officers in Scottsbluff found a truck with damage to one of its doors and a woman suffering minor injuries after the dog inside the vehicle accidentally discharged a shotgun.

Investigators said the firearm had been left loaded on the back seat while the owner went into a nearby convenience store, leaving the dog alone. As the animal moved around inside the truck, it inadvertently triggered the weapon.

The blast damaged the vehicle and struck a woman standing a short distance away near a traffic signal. She was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

No other injuries were reported.