Two horses struck by pickup east of Sundre died

Two horses were killed following a middle-of-the-night collision east of Sundre over the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Mounties responded to an animal call at about 3 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 14 following a report of a collision involving a pickup truck and multiple horses at Highway 27, which is about 100 kilometres southwest of Calgary, said the Sundre RCMP detachment’s acting commander, adding members of the Sundre Fire Department and EMS were also involved in that response.

“This collision occurred near the Westward Ho (campground),” Cpl. Courtney Harding told the Albertan by email in providing a break down of calls for service received throughout the long weekend.

While the investigation into the incident remains ongoing, Harding said police found a Ford half-ton truck at the scene that had sustained “significant front end damage.”

The corporal said the truck that had been occupied by a lone male driver was determined to have struck three horses that were on the highway at the time.

“As a result of this collision, two horses had died on scene,” she said, adding the motorist sustained minor injuries.

“The horses are believed to have been owned, and escaped the pasture they were held in,” she said, adding that is also under investigation.

Regarding whether excessive speed, fatigue, road conditions, impairment, low visibility or a combination of the above might have played a role in the crash, she said, “I can say with certainty the pitch dark was definitely a contributing factor.”

The call for service was one of 16 that the Sundre RCMP received throughout the long weekend.