Rick Hilton -- Conrad Blames Dog for Causing Brentwood Crash

Rick Hilton says his son Conrad insists the only reason he crashed into a parked car in Brentwood this weekend was to avoid running over a dog that darted out into the street.

Rick was out in L.A. today -- when he told a photog, "Well, what happened according to him telling me is that he was driving and a dog ran in front of him and to avoid the dog he had to veer off."

Rick says Conrad DID NOT leave the scene after the collision -- although shortly after the crash, City News Service reported that police told them that Conrad had left the scene.

Check out the crash video below -- doesn't appear to be a doggie anywhere in sight.