11 horses die in Oklahoma tractor trailer accident

A tractor trailer driver hauling 30 horses overturned on Turner Turnpike Tuesday morning, and 11 of the horses died, troopers said.

But with the help of several volunteers who stopped to help, about 17 horses survived and were herded into a makeshift pen at N Sooner Road and NE 122.

A horse stands next to an overturned tractor trailer that was transporting horses Tuesday morning on the Kilpatrick Turnpike. Photo by Paul B. Southerland.

The driver of the tractor trailer, who was not hurt, fell asleep at the wheel driving west on Turner Turnpike and crashed into the median on the east side of Interstate 35 about 6 a.m., patrol Lt. James Watson said.

Trooper Jerrad Real was the first to arrive and found horses badly hurt and stacked inside the overturned trailer. Real said he had to use his gun to put down three of the horses. Nine horses lay in the median and two horses were euthanized by veterinarians near a makeshift pen at Sooner and NE 122.

Passersby stopped to help herd the horses as traffic was shut down on the interstate.

The tractor trailer driver declined to comment and was interviewed by troopers. He wore a ballcap that read, “Olean Livestock Market.”

Animal control officers took the surviving horses to a location near Lake Stanley Draper where a veterinarian was expected to look the horses over.

Source: NewsOK.com. Read full article and view video report here >>

When will the U.S. Congress end this madness and ban horse slaughter and export for slaughter? Contact your U.S. Representative (H.R. 503) and both U.S. Senators (S. 727) and ask them to fast track this legislation now.