Friday morning rush hour bore witness to an animal tragedy after three horses wandered onto the South Freeway between Airport Boulevard and Reed Road.
KTRK reports that a minivan traveling north just before 5 a.m. struck two of the animals, killing them both instantly, while the third horse escaped the scene unharmed.
While it remains unclear how the animals walked into traffic, many suspect the horses escaped from a nearby pasture.
Officer Kese Smith from the Houston Police Department, which is overseeing the accident investigation, told CultureMap the driver was not seriously injured.
The Orem entrance ramp and the far right inbound lane were closed for several hours as city solid waste crews removed the horses with a hydraulic lift. The accident was cleared by 8 a.m.
According to workers from nearby businesses, the stretch of freeway cuts through an area rich in grazing land. While it remains unclear how the animals walked into traffic, many suspect the horses broke free from a nearby pasture.
