Horse rescued after trailer overturns in 5-car I-215/60 wreck
MORENO VALLEY –Minor injuries were reported and a horse escaped injury after a pickup truck pulling a horse trailer overturned in a five-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon, Jan. 5. The crash, which left the horse temporarily trapped inside the overturned trailer, happened on the I-215/60 Freeway interchange, just west of Moreno Valley.
Yesterday afternoon’s crash prompted a SigAlert and nearly full-closure of all southbound traffic lanes, causing a backup of several miles and extended travel times for commuters and area motorists.
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CHP, City of Riverside Fire personnel, and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene just after 3:30 p.m., after receiving numerous reports of a multi-vehicle rollover collision. 911 callers reported one of the involved vehicles was a black Nissan pickup truck pulling a horse trailer and that the trailer overturned and was on its side, leaving one horse trapped and possibly injured.
When officials began arriving at the scene, they found five vehicles that had been involved and located the overturned horse trailer.
Numerous witnesses and good Samaritans were helping the owner of the overturned trailer and were seen trying to rip apart the top of the trailer to gain access to the distressed horse, which was trapped and laying on its side within the overturned trailer.
While paramedics tended to the occupants from the involved vehicles, firefighters began a cut and rescue operation to free the horse.
Officials eventually cut most of the roof away from the trailer, at which time good Samaritans helped firefighters and officers drag the horse from inside, at which time the horse immediately jumped up and began walking along the side of the freeway with its owner.
CHP later reported the horse was uninjured in the collision or subsequent extrication and rescue.
While emergency personnel worked at the scene they issued a SigAlert and called for the closure of all southbound lanes except for the carpool lane. Traffic was soon backed up several miles, while motorists slowly worked their way past the scene of the crash and officials continued working at the scene.
All freeway lanes were reopened after about two hours, according to CHP; who later reported unsafe speed was a contributing factor in this accident.
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.
Undersized bumper-pull trailers are NOT safe. People should know better when transporting their horses! Really glad that they rescued the horse.