Family's Pet Seriously Injured in Driveway Incident
A West Yorkshire family has been left devastated and facing veterinary bills exceeding £1,200 after an Amazon delivery driver ran over their pet dog and failed to stop.
The incident involving Steve Cockerham's 12-year-old German Shepherd, Molly, occurred on his property in Otley on September 21, 2025. CCTV footage shows an unmarked white van entering the driveway while Molly was sitting quietly. Before the dog could move, the van drove over her, pushing her to the ground.
Shockingly, with Molly still trapped underneath the vehicle, the driver reversed before speeding away without delivering a package or checking on the animal.
Severe Injuries and a Battle for Compensation
The dog run over sustained severe injuries to one of her hind legs. Mr Cockerham revealed that vets have stated Molly might need extensive, life-threatening surgery or could even face being put down.
He said Molly is now effectively a three-legged dog, and the family is considering a dog wheelchair to help maintain her quality of life. The vet bills have already reached £1,200, with treatment expected to continue for potentially years.
In response, Amazon sent the family a £25 pet bed as an apology. The Cockerhams are now in a dispute with the online giant, which has stated it will not consider reimbursing veterinary expenses until all final, itemised bills are submitted.
Mr Cockerham condemned this approach as "wholly inadequate," adding, "This is not an acceptable approach to compensating for damage caused directly by their driver." He also expressed concern that it could have been a child that was run over.
Ongoing Investigations and Further Grievances
West Yorkshire Police confirmed they are investigating the incident. A spokesperson stated that local officers have been in regular contact with the dog's owner and the investigation is ongoing.
Mr Cockerham also disclosed that he was told the delivery driver, who works for an independent firm on behalf of Amazon, has not responded to a police warning and is likely to face only minor penalties.
Compounding the family's distress, Mr Cockerham claimed that two weeks after the incident, his daughter Hollie was "approached and propositioned by two Amazon drivers" while she was alone on their property in the dark. Amazon reportedly apologised for this separate event and sent a £10 voucher.
After Mr Cockerham shared the footage on social media, Amazon's executive enquiries team in the US contacted him, stating they were working to resolve the matter. A company spokesperson told the BBC that compensation was the responsibility of the independent delivery service, not Amazon directly.
