Driver and four horses hurt, three horses killed in accident.
(Bardstown, KY - March 25, 2024) - Bardstown Fire Department and Nelson County EMS were dispatched to the 25 MM of the Bluegrass Parkway for an injury accident. When units arrived on scene, a tractor-trailer pulling a large commercial equine transport coach traveling eastbound had left the roadway, crossed over the westbound lanes and crashed into the Hwy 150 bridge embankment. The force of the impact sheared the 5th wheel hitch allowing the trailer to crush the cab of the truck. Crews were able to extricate the Creech Logistics driver within 30 minutes. The driver was taken to a nearby landing zone by Nelson County EMS and flown to University of Louisville hospital by Air Methods KY-6. The horses were being transported from Fairgrounds Racetrack in New Orleans, LA to Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, KY.
Additional technical support was requested from equine emergency staff to begin the extrication of the 7 thoroughbred horses in the transport trailer. The severe angle of the trailer and the condition of the horses inside, led to a decision to open the rear of the trailer and evacuate the horses one at a time. Specialists from Anderson County Large Animal Rescue and Jessamine County/Nicholasville Large Animal Response arrived on-scene and assisted Bardstown Fire in the removal of the injured horses. Bardstown PD Officer A.J. Lewis conducted the investigation.
Numerous veterinary doctors were on-scene along with many other equine support staff. Teams secured the 4 injured horses for extrication and removed each one individually for transport by equine ambulances supplied by Keeneland, Hagyard, and Creech. Removal of the horses took over 4 hours. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the accident, 3 horses did not survive their injuries. Total time on-scene was in excess of 10 hours.
Medical staff on-scene from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute:
Dr. Mike Beyer, Dr Cossette Faivre, Dr Myriah Albrecht, Dr John Greene, Dr Hannah Taylor, Dr Martin Mejia, Dr Mallory Myers, Technician Maggie Dull.
Horses are currently under the care of Dr Kathy MacGillivray and Dr Nimet Browne at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.
Medical Staff from Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital: Dr Sarah Hargrove and Dr David Alexander.
Agencies involved:
Bardstown Fire Department, Nelson County Dispatch, Bardstown Police Department, Nelson County Fire Department, Nelson County EMS, Nelson County Animal Control, Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, Air Methods KY-6, Anderson County Large Animal Rescue, Jessamine County Large Animal Response Team, Nicholasville Fire Department, Keeneland Racecourse, Ellis Towing, KYDOT, KY Department of Agriculture and State Veterinarian’s Office.
