Surviving horses not out of woods

The 43 surviving horses from a weekend crash continued to improve Tuesday; however, veterinarians say it will be at least another week before they are out of danger.

Veterinarians considered euthanizing two more horses Monday, but their conditions improved overnight, said Leslie Szalla, with Bristol Veterinary Service in Union Grove, Wis.

In all, 16 draft horses have died or been euthanized following a rollover crash Saturday night involving the double-decker semitrailer truck they were being transported in.

"Given what we saw when we got to the wreck, I'm shocked as many came off the truck alive as they did," Szalla said. "Today, the majority were doing better than worse, but it will be at least another week before there are not potential complications."

The driver, James Anderson, 34, of McLeod, N.D., ran a red light on Route 41 near Wadsworth, striking a pickup truck and flipping his vehicle, police said.

Anderson has been issued citations for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to obey traffic controls, said Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Christopher Thompson.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture and USDA launched investigations Monday that could lead to additional charges. Thompson said he expects the findings within the next day or two.

Meanwhile, the horses will continue to be housed at Carney Farm in Wadsworth.

Szalla said the majority of the horses appear to be yearlings. The rest are 2 or 3 years old at the most, she said.

The animals were being transported from an auction in Shepshewana, Ind., to Minnesota.

Sheriff's officials have said the animals are owned by a Minnesota-based breeder and were not being taken to a slaughterhouse. The breeder is not being identified.

Szalla said the veterinary bills are being paid by a local insurance company.