pit bull
A 71-year-old southwest Detroit woman was attacked and killed by her own pit bull dog Saturday night, police said.

Authorities said Elizabeth Rivera died in the attack. She died of a crush injury to the neck, said Lloyd Jackson, a spokesman for the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office. He said that the manner of death was accident. An autopsy was performed today.

The incident happened about 8 p.m. at her home in the 2000 block of Ferdinand, near Vernor Highway, according to Sgt. Michael Woody of Detroit Police.

Woody said the dog, one of four in the home, bit the woman, knocking her down, and then bit her throat, severing her jugular vein. She died at the scene.

Animal control took the pit bull away, Woody said.

He had no other details.

The four dogs are in the possession of Detroit Animal Control, said Tamekia Ashford, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Health Department.

Ashford said she was unable to provide information on the type of dogs, who owns the dogs and whether the dogs are alive or not because of the pending investigation. She said she may be able to provide more information Monday.