Horses & Mules Killed on US 97, Sept. 12

On Friday, September 09, 2016, at approximately 4:35 AM, Oregon State Troopers responded to a Commercial Motor Vehicle Crash (CMV) on US-97 in Sherman County. The CMV tractor/trailer combination collided with four horses and two mules which were killed as a result of the crash. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2012 Peterbelt was loaded with potatoes and traveling southbound when it collided with six animals which were in the middle of the highway. The driver of the CMV, Mr. Kory Kock, age 33, from Grass Valley, Oregon, was not injured. The tractor sustained extensive front end damage. The trailer was not damaged. The owners were notified. The highway was temporarily blocked while the horses were recovered. At 7:24 AM, ODOT reported all animals were removed and all lanes were opened. The animals were pastured east of the highway. They had to walk several miles to get to the highway. It is unknown how they got out of the pasture. This portion of the highway is not considered open range. There was no enforcement action taken on the CMV driver or the owners of the animals.