A fatal crash occurred yesterday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. between a GMC Yukon and a semi-trailer hauling horses near Balgonie, Sask.
The driver of the Yukon, an 85-year-old male from Hubbard, Sask., was pronounce dead on the scene. His name has not been released. The semi-trailer driver was not injured.
The semi-trailer was carrying 27 slaughter horses. Fifteen 15 survived the crash.
First responders and local veterinarians and farmers with horse experience worked at the long process of getting the horses out of the trucks.
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Sections of the semi-trailer and the roof had to be cut to remove the animals.
The surviving horses were put into a corral and then loaded on to another semi-trailer.
Three of the 12 horses that died had to be put down by the RCMP with the advice of the vets on scene.
The crash occurred when the Yukon tried crossing the westbound lane of the Trans-Canada Highway from the town of Balgonie.
The Yukon was resting in the north ditch of the westbound lane of the highway and the semi was overturned in the south ditch next to the eastbound lane of the highway.
Both lanes of the highway were closed and traffic was diverted through Balgonie as well as grid roads.
The semi-trailer caught on fire after all the horses had been removed later in the evening, and the Balgonie Fire Department returned to the scene to put out the blaze.
The westbound lane was opened early in the evening for travel, but the eastbound lane remained closed until 11 p.m.
The collision remains under investigation.
