Injured Horses Rescued After Highway Crash In Camden County

BELLMAWR, NJ — Several injured horses were rescued from a trailer that got damaged Tuesday in a crash on the Jersey Turnpike, trapping them inside.

A pickup truck, which was hauling the horse trailer, collided with a van at 10:44 a.m. on the Jersey Turnpike South in Bellmawr, officials said. The horse trailer's back door and ramp sustained serious damage, entrapping the animals, according to the Cherry Hill Fire Department, which responded to the incident.

The trailer was also disabled and couldn't be moved off the shoulder of the highway. One of the horses showed signs of distress from its injuries, officials said.

No people were hurt.

Fire personnel worked with State Police, the horse owners and their partners to formulate a plan to rescue the animals from the trailer. Members of the CHFD's Squad Company 13 removed the trailer's doors, ramp and interior partition with extrication tools.

During that time, State Police temporarily shut down the southbound lanes. Police vehicles, a fire apparatus and the new trailer brought it to rescue the horses helped block off traffic.

The horses were removed and transported by their owners for further medical care.

The crash remains under investigation, according to State Police.