Somerset Woman Dies After Being Mauled By Family Dog During Seizure
SOMERSET (CBS) -- A woman in Somerset died Friday night after she was mauled by a dog, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. Melissa Astacio, 44, was having a seizure at the time of the attack.
Astacio was the dog's owner. Her daughter called 9-1-1 when she started having a seizure, and the dog started attacking while the daughter was on the phone.
First responders got to Lees River Avenue around 5:20 p.m. "Police were forced to deploy a Taser on the dog before being able to assist the victim, who was then rushed to Rhode Island Hospital," said the D.A.
Astacio was rushed to Rhode Island hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The dog, believed to be an eight-year-old pit bull, was taken by the Swansea Animal Rescue and is in quarantine.
No crime or foul play is suspected. Astacio was known to have seizures, the D.A. said.