COLTON, Ore. -- Three horses were killed Friday morning in a tragic accident on Highway 211 north of Colton, according to Oregon Department of Transportation.
Warning: (Graphic) aerials over accident
A group of eight female Arabian horses owned by area resident Marge Smith had gotten loose and wandered into traffic around 5:30 a.m. According to Oregon State Police, a witness told troopers the horses ran from Bonney Road onto the highway. The witness flashed lights in alert but a log truck, driven by Norman Charles Terrill, Sr., was unable to stop or avoid hitting the horses.
The unloaded truck swerved but struck the animals and killed them. One of the horses was ripped apart by the impact. Two other horses that were loose and spotted overhead by KGW Sky-8 had not been accounted for.
In all, there were eight horses in the group, state police said. Terrill, of Sandy, was uninjured.
State Police said Terrill was traveling southbound on Hwy 211 from Bonney Road. A witness told troopers the horses ran from Bonney Road onto the highway. The witness flashed lights in alert but Terrill was unable to stop or avoid hitting the horses.
Traffic was closed north and south. Tarps were placed over the horse carcasses mid-morning.
Terrill was not charged.
