FIVE HURT AND HORSES KILLED
THE five young people hospitalised after a horror crash that killed four horses on Monday morning were returning from a harness meeting in Hobart.
Leading trainer Ben Yole took to Facebook to confirm those involved in the crash, aged 14-20, belonged to his stable.
“Unfortunately, we can confirm that some of our team were involved in a serious accident last night,” Yoles Harness Racing Stables posted.
“We have had a lot of people reaching out offering support. We would just like to thank you and ask that at this time we all have some space to navigate our way through.
“We will update as updates become available.”
Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash on the Batman Hwy, Rowella at 1.45am.
Tasmania Police investigations found a white Ford Ranger towing a horse float with four horses had left the road and hit a stump
The five occupants of the Ranger were transported to the Launceston General Hospital.
An 18-year-old rear passenger was found to have serious injuries and will be flown to Melbourne for further treatment.
A 17-year-old passenger who suffered head injuries has been transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital for further treatment.
Two of the horses died immediately and another two had to be euthanised at the scene.
Officer in Charge of the North East division Ruth Orr said the ute, driven by a 20-year-old woman from Rowella, veered off to the right side of the road and crashed into the stump.
“It appears probably fatigue,” Inspector Orr said when asked what police believed had caused the crash.
“They had been in Hobart attending a race meeting, and at the conclusion of the race meeting they were travelling back to I believe Rowella. So they were not far from home.
“They have all suffered injuries to varying degrees, some more serious than others.”
Inspector Orr said a new iPhone feature, which pings emergency services if it believes its owner has been involved in a crash, alerted police to the incident.
Police, who were in the area for an unrelated matter, were able to be at the scene in eight minutes.
“In a case like this, where potentially people may have lost consciousness in a crash like that, it’s certainly something that alerts emergency services fairly quickly,” Inspector Orr said.
Inspector Orr said the owners of a horse which had to be euthanised at the scene arrived to say their goodbyes.
“It’s distressing for people to see animals that are injured and suffering.”
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Northern Crash Investigation Services via 131 444 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.