Horse killed in ‘horrific’ truck crash on Peak Downs Highway near Nebo

A truck driver has told of the horrifying sound of horses ‘screaming’ as he was forced to drive through them on a highway west of Mackay. He believes fireworks initially spooked the horses. DISTURBING CONTENT

A truck driver says he could hear the team of horses “screaming” as he sat behind the wheel of his truck forced to drive straight in their direction.

The incident along the Peak Downs Highway just shy of Nebo on Tuesday night left a bloody and “horrific” mess compelling Paul McGinley to plead with residents to think twice before letting off fireworks.

“I’ve come past Braeside Rd, the last straight into Nebo and there was six horses just in the middle of the road,” Mr McGinley said.

“Next thing I know, I was just confronted with them all.

“I had no time to react, I just went to the middle of the road.

“Unfortunately one of the horses went underneath the truck (and) was spat out the back.

“The poor bugger, he had nowhere to go.

“The sound of these horses when I went through the middle, I could hear the screaming.

“It was just horrific.”

Truck driver Paul McGinley posted to Facebook to warn people about using fireworks after his truck collided with a horse along the Peak Downs Highway about 9.40pm on December 14, 2021. Picture: Contributed

The road train driver said he believed fireworks caused the horses to bolt out of the paddock and was thankful it was his truck and not a car driver who came upon them.

“On Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings, it’s really, really busy out on that Peak Downs Highway because of shift changeovers,” he said.

Mr McGinley posted about the crash on the Nebo Buy, Sell Or Swap and Community Information Facebook page to raise awareness and prevent a repeat incident.

He said the horse was just one of many creatures in the “hell of a lot of” roadkill collected along the Peak Downs Highway and suggested more wildlife crossings be installed.

“Koalas just get hammered,” he said, adding he tried to shoo them off the road when he could.

A Queensland police statement said officers were investigating the crash.

“We are upset to say that the horse did not survive,” the statement said.

“If anyone has any information about the fireworks which happened beforehand, please could they contact the Nebo police on 07 4950 5120 and speak to Senior Constable Andrew Perrett.

“Any assistance would be appreciated.”

Originally published as Horse killed in ‘horrific’ truck crash on Peak Downs Highway near Nebo