WASHINGTON CITY — On an otherwise beautiful day, disaster struck for one family when their horse was startled.
Due to some horseplay from unknown drivers knocking down orange cones at a balloon festival in Washington City, the horse was spooked and broke a leg. As a result, the horse had to be euthanized, Ed Tracey, president of the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, said.
More than 10,000 people gathered Jan. 12-14 for the third annual Up & Away Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival, Tracey told St. George News.
“We had about 500 cones set up to alleviate traffic, to try and stop double parking out near Staheli Farms,” he said. “Some kids were out there trying to have some fun, knocking them all down by driving over them. Unfortunately, it ended in tragedy and they don’t even know about it.”
A horse nearby in the area was spooked enough it suffered a broken leg, a death sentence for most equines, Tracey noted. The horse’s owner, her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old granddaughter witnessed the whole thing.
Lt. Kory Klotz with the Washington City Police Department said witnesses reported seeing a light-colored Ford F-150 with bikes in the back speeding from the area, although the exact year and color are unknown.
“It was driving recklessly through an area on Washington Fields Road in the early afternoon on Jan. 12,” Klotz wrote in an email. “The vehicle hit several cones in the area while driving recklessly. The vehicle was occupied by two individuals — unknown adult or juvenile — and their identity is still unknown.”
Klotz said with limited information on the suspects or further vehicle descriptions, the case has gone cold.
“The case is inactive until more information becomes available,” he said.
Tracey said although the horse was valued at several thousand dollars, the family is not seeking restitution for their anguish. Rather, they want those responsible to stand up for their actions.
“The family isn’t looking for anything other than an apology,” he said. “And for those responsible to know that their actions caused this and to learn something from the experience.”
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Washington City Police Department.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.