Heartless driver flees after hitting river otter in Bay Area

An innocent river otter was left suffering from head trauma after a heartless hit-and-run driver struck the critter and fled in Northern California Friday.

The otter was hit near Leisure Town Road and Foxborough Road in Vacaville — an area notorious for otters being struck by vehicles.

“Otter Needs Help! This boy was hit by a car today in Vacaville, CA. Please donate for his medical care, rehab, and transport. Thank you,” the Solano Wildlife Rescue and Education Center posted on Facebook.

One woman said her daughter discovered the injured animal lying in the road and stayed with it until help arrived.

“My daughter found him in the road last night… Somebody hit him and didn’t stop. She pulled over and stayed with him until animal control came. I’m so glad to see he’s getting help,” one user commented.

The Wildlife Center thanked the woman’s daughter for stopping to help, saying they “try really hard to save the critters” that come through their doors.

The otter escaped the crash without any broken bones but suffered head trauma and will receive treatment for roughly seven to 10 days, the Wildlife Center told KRON4.

Its “head swelling should go down during this time,” the organization said.

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The Solano Wildlife Rescue and Education Center is a Fairfield-based nonprofit that works to protect local wildlife, rescue injured animals and rehabilitate them before returning them to the wild.

The group has recently treated a female opossum with a fractured lower jaw and rescued and released an illegally trapped coyote.

Those looking to help the injured otter and other wildlife can donate through the organization’s website or via PayPal or Zelle at Solanowildlife@gmail.com.