Police confirm that a second horse has died after crash on A6 near Harborough

A police investigation is being stepped up into a horrific crash in which two horses were killed on the edge of Market Harborough.
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Two people were also rushed to hospital after the two-vehicle smash at the junction of the A6 with Clack Hill on Kettering Road early on Monday March 2.

Leicestershire Police said officers are now trying to establish exactly how the devastating accident happened at 5.30am.

Enquiries are also being carried out in a bid to pinpoint where the stray horses came from and discover how they managed to get on to the busy stretch of road.

A police investigation is being stepped up into a horrific crash in which two horses were killed on the edge of Market Harborough.A police investigation is being stepped up into a horrific crash in which two horses were killed on the edge of Market Harborough.
A police investigation is being stepped up into a horrific crash in which two horses were killed on the edge of Market Harborough.

One of the horses, thought to have escaped from a nearby field, was killed instantly in the collision.

A second animal had to be put to sleep by a vet after being critically injured in the incident, involving a van and a car.

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said one horse was already dead when officers arrived at the scene.

She said: “A road traffic collision had also occurred, involving two vehicles – a van and a car – but it’s unclear as to whether either vehicle collided with the horses or not.

“An investigation is being carried out into the circumstances.”

The spokeswoman said Northamptonshire Police also attended the crash.

She said the second horse “had to be destroyed” because it was so seriously injured.

The crash sparked major rush-hour traffic congestion to the south and east of Harborough after the A6 was shut in both directions.

The road was reopened just before 9am after the heavily-used route had been closed over three hours triggering major delays.

At least 15 firefighters from throughout the area dashed to the spot after the alarm was raised.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service sent an appliance from Harborough, an appliance from Kibworth and an appliance from Billesdon.

And they were backed up by a specialist ‘technical rescue/large animal rescue team’ from Leicester’s Southern Fire Station.

An East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said two casualties were taken to Kettering General Hospital.

It’s not known how seriously they were injured.

“We received a call at 5.35am on 2 March to Kettering Road in Market Harborough.

“The caller reported that there had been a road traffic collision,” said the ambulance service spokesman.

“We sent a paramedic in a fast response car and two road ambulances.

“Two patients were taken to Kettering General Hospital via road ambulances.”