HOUSTON -- An injured horse ran down the northbound lanes of the Southwest Freeway Friday afternoon after it fell out of a moving trailer near the Wilcrest Road exit.
The driver of the trailer did not see that the horse had fallen out, or the resulting traffic jam, and kept driving, Stafford police said.
Police said another motorist pulled over and was able to grab the animal and secure it to a center divider on the freeway’s shoulder.
Air 11 video shows the horse suffered deep lacerations across his body and head.
After struggling to get the animal into another trailer, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Department took the horse to a Needville veterinarian. That's where they learned the horse’s injuries were not life-threatening.
“You would think that an animal falling out the back of a trailer at an excessive speed of 60 plus would have nothing but broken legs, but by some miracle this horse doesn’t,” said Deputy William Jenkins. “We ought to rename this horse to Lucky.”
Jenkins said the horse’s caretaker’s nephew was driving the trailer.
“He had no idea that the horse fell out until he got home to Acres Home, and realized he had no horse,” he said.
