Oct 28, 2007 4:48 pm US/Central
Horses Killed in Crash in Wadsworth
WADSWORTH, Ill. (STNG) ―
Several horses died Saturday night when a semi truck carrying 59 horses flipped on its side in Wadsworth after running a red light and colliding with another vehicle.
As many as 15 horses died in the accident which occurred just before 7 p.m. Saturday at Route 41 and Wadsworth Road, according to Sgt. Curt Gregory of the Lake County sheriff's office.
"We mourn the loss of these magnificent creatures. I extend my most heartfelt gratitude to the rescue workers, veterinarians and volunteers who rushed to the scene in an attempt to save the injured horses, " said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "The gory details of this accident serve as a reminder of the grisly nature of shipping large numbers of horses hundreds of miles to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico."
The driver of the semi truck, James E. Anderson, 34, of McLeod, N.D. was northbound on Route 41 when he reportedly ran the red light at Wadsworth Road. Anderson then lost control of the semi, which jumped the median and crossed four lanes before landing on its side, said Gregory.
Nine horses died on the scene, but a total of 15 horses are reported dead, according to Gregory. The surviving horses are currently under the care of a veterinarian at an undisclosed location.
Anderson was cited for failure to stop at a red light and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Any additional charges are pending further investigation by the Lake County sheriff's office, according to Gregory.
The driver of the pick up truck, Larry Hanlin, 67, of Libertyville, was taken to and released from Vista Victory Memorial Hospital East in Waukegan with minor injuries.
The semi reportedly picked up the horses in Indiana and was transporting them to Minnesota.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
