A HORSE died after a van carrying it fell from a north Pembrokeshire bridge yesterday afternoon, August 16.

The 14-ton LGV van is believed to have been travelling north from Haverfordwest’s County Show before leaving the bridge at an area known locally as ‘Cwmmins’.

The road was closed for a number of hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.

 

Police and Crymych firefighters were called to the bridge on the B4329 road, near Crosswell, at approximately 5.20-5.30pm yesterday.

A Cardigan-bound eyewitness to the crash said: “We arrived about 5.50pm and had already been informed from friends about the incident, but as we were also in a horse lorry we weren’t able to turn ‘round easy, so we thought we would wait and see if they needed a hand.

“When we got there the police and fire brigade were already at the scene and the fire crew were already securing the chassis of the lorry to stop it falling any further; you could hear the horse inside stomping but sadly they couldn’t get to the horse as the door was leant up to a tree.

“They had to wait for a crane from Carmarthen to come and pull it out, so they must’ve waited there for ages, and, in that time, the owner managed to get into the horse box to check on the horse but sadly the horse [had died].”

Crymych firefighters, who had previously attended an unrelated incident at Eglwyswrw, arrived at 5.20pm, securing the van, using lines and strops due to its position.

In a four-hour operation, the road was closed while awaiting a breakdown vehicle, crew members leaving at 9.29pm.

Police arrived at 5.30pm.

A police spokesman said: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended a report of a single-vehicle RTC on the B4329, near Crosswell, at 5.30pm yesterday (August 16). A box van carrying a horse had fallen around six feet over a small bridge. Sadly a horse died as a result of the incident. No serious injuries were reported by the driver or passenger.

“No offences were identified. The road was closed for a number of hours while the vehicle was recovered and has now re-opened.”