A man is said to be in critical condition after being struck by a car on southbound Highway 75 early  Friday morning.

The man was trying to cross the highway when he was hit and ended up laying in the roadway. Tulsa police were on the scene very quickly but a dog believed to be a pitbull and belonging to the man was protecting him and wouldn't allow police or EMSA medics close to the man.

The officers were forced to shoot and kill the dog and and were then able to render aid. KRMG asked Oklahoma Highway Patrol lieutenant George Brown if shooting the dog became necessary "absolutely for two reasons."

"Number one to render aid to the pedestrian and number two the dog was attacking the police officers."

Click here to listen to Lt. Brown from the scene of the accident.

The man has been transported to St. John's Medical Center in critical condition.

(**WARNING** Graphic images of the dog)

Scanner radio traffic from the time of the incident indicates that police at the scene called for Tulsa Animal Control officers to catch or tranquilize the animal, but were told that it would would be at least an hour before they could respond on-scene. At that point, a supervising officer made the decision to shot the dog to remove the threat to responders.