Three horses killed as result of crash
By Logan Bagett on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
MT. VERNON – (Press Release from Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley)
On the morning of September 15th near 0500 am, a call to the Grant County Emergency Communication Center from a Mt. Vernon Oregon resident, reported that there were horses loose in the area of Laycock Road and Highway 26.
As an attempt was made to locate the horse owners the horses ran east on Highway 26 to near mile post 158, where three horses were struck by a passing motorist.
Lance Singhose, 18 of Burns Oregon was reportedly headed westbound to work in a 1999 Ford F350 when he observed a vehicle on the side of the highway facing him, and as he slowed, all of horses ran into the lane of travel. Singhose was not injured, and the vehicle was totaled.
Two of the horses were killed from the collision and one had to be put down at the scene.
It was discovered the horses had come from a pasture almost six miles away, and it is unknown as to why the horses became frightened and ran.
Both lanes of Highway 26 were closed for about an hour.
Sheriff McKinley would like to thank Colleen Robertson from the John Day River Vet Clinic for her assistance at the scene, Nick Steiner, ODOT and all other bystanders that were involved in this tragic scene.
