Stray animals cause 'life-changing' injuries to motorists, police issue warning

Field owner fined after stray livestock moves onto A3 causing catastrophic crash
Field owner fined after stray livestock moves onto A3 causing catastrophic crash

Surrey Police is urging livestock owners to ensure their animals do not pose a danger to road users following a crash on the A3 which left two horses dead and caused severe injuries to motorists.

The owner of the land on which the horses were grazing was sentenced at court this week and fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £700.

The incident happened on December 16, 2015 at 3.40am near Esher when the two horses strayed from Surrey Grazing based in Oxshott and walked onto the southbound carriageway where they were in collision with four vehicles.

One of those included a motorcyclist who was transporting blood and platelets to Frimley Park Hospital.

Four people suffered life-changing injuries as a result, while the road was closed for around six hours causing major delays for motorists.

'Catastrophic collision'

Sergeant Eddie Ryan of Surrey Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “This was a catastrophic collision was has resulted in life-changing injuries for four people and led to the deaths of two horses. It also caused huge delays across the area for more than six hours while the road was closed.

“It is a stark reminder that if you own livestock, or allow livestock to graze on your land near a road that they must be kept in a secure area or there could be tragic consequences.”

Rosemary Gibson-Miller, aged 49 from Pyrford, was found guilty at Redhill Magistrates Court on the January 11 of the offence of Allowing an Animal to Stray onto the Highway, contrary to section 155(1) and (2) of the Highways Act 1980.