Brush with death for man and dog covered in paint

A driver and his dog were left covered in paint after he lost control of his vehicle – resulting in a messy and colourful accident.

The vehicle was travelling with five-gallon buckets of latex paint in a variety of colours along a state highway in Washington state, when it crashed.

Washington state patrol trooper Russ Winger said the driver somehow lost control of his SUV and ran off the highway, near Belfair, south-west of Seattle.

The paint went flying, coating the man, his formerly black dog and the interior of the vehicle.

Ruff deal: his dog was also covered but a nearby resident helped to get it clean again (Picture: AP)

The unidentified man suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital.

Mr Winger said he and an off-duty firefighter who happened to be near the accident found a nearby resident who let them wash the dog and tu it back to its proper colour.

It is now being temporarily cared for by the local animal welfare society, where the owner can pick it up after recovering.

The man sits covered in paint as he waits to be removed from his vehicle. (Picture: AP Photo/Washington State Patrol, Russ Winger)