PORT TOWNSEND — Two horses were euthanized Christmas evening after they were struck by a car on Jacob Miller Road, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.
Captain Ben Stamper of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said that at 6:18 p.m. Christmas night, a vehicle collided with two horses in the northbound lane of Jacob Miller Road between Gun Club and Lupine roads, closing the road for two hours.
The driver of the vehicle, who was not identified by Stamper, refused medical treatment. He was uninjured and will not be charged, Stamper said.
Stamper did not know the owner of the horses. Dayna Killam, owner of 3 Arrows Horsemanship who said she donated the land for their burial, said they were among four owned by a neighbor.
The neighbor could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Once they left the pasture, “two of the horses were severely injured and the other two ran off,” Killam said.
Both horses suffered severe fractures, Killam said. A mare had a compound front leg fracture and a gelding had a left front knee fracture.
Killam said the two uninjured animals were found together, about 40 minutes later down the road in another neighbor’s driveway. She said a neighbor let them both stay in their pasture overnight.
Deputy Chief Ted Krysinski of East Jefferson Fire Rescue contacted Dr. Erik Splawn of Happy Valley Veterinary Service in Sequim. Splawn determined that the animals could not be saved and euthanized them.
He told Karen Griffiths, Peninsula Daily News columnist, that he did the service for free because “it was Christmas Day and a real crummy deal.”
Killam said many in the area came together to help the neighbor and her horses.
“We had volunteers who blanketed them,” Killam said.
“They were stable, quiet and calm, but under stress going into shock. We made them as comfortable as possible as could be until the vet arrived.
“The county brought over a front loader from the Jefferson County Transfer Station and respectfully removed them from the scene. I donated a place for them to be buried,” which happened Wednesday morning, she said, adding that the county provided its service for free.
“It was a freak accident. Everyone was in the right place at the right time and jumped into help.”
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
