POWNAL, Vt. — A horse was killed early Wednesday morning after being hit by two vehicles on Route 7 south of the Pownal View Barn. 

 

Trooper Robert Zink said police were dispatched at about 6 a.m. and found the dead horse in the road along with two vehicles. 

 

The drivers of the cars, Joseph Ciuk, 52, of Pownal, and Dieter Jaenecke, 62, of Bennington, were southbound on Route 7 when they came upon three horses loose on the highway. 

 

Neither was able to stop in time to avoid the animals. 

 

Jaenecke's 2012 Subaru Impreza struck the horse first; Ciuk, who was behind Jaenecke, tried to avoid it but the horse was struck again by his 2000 Dodge Dakota Truck.

 

Neither man was injured but Ciuk's truck incurred extensive front-end damage, totaling the vehicle. Jaenecke's Subaru was damaged on the front passenger side and roof. Both men were wearing seat belts.

 

U.S. Route 7 was reduced to one lane for approximately 30 minutes while the vehicles and horse were removed from the roadway. State Police were assisted by the Pownal Constable during this crash investigation.

 

Police did not include in the report who owned the horses or how they came to be loose.