Five people injured, four horses dead after horror crash at Rowella

See the latest on the condition of the five young people involved in a terrifying crash that killed four horses on Monday morning.

Update: Four people remain in a stable condition in Launceston General Hospital and one has been discharged after a horror crash that killed four horses in Rowella yesterday.

Five young people aged 14-20 were returning from a harness meeting in Hobart in the early hours of Monday morning in a white Ford Ranger with a horse float attached.

Emergency services were called to the scene on the Batman Highway at 1.45am after an iPhone, which pings emergency services if it believes its owner has been involved in a crash, alerted police of the incident.

Sadly, two of the horses died immediately following the crash and another two had to be euthanised at the scene.

A spokesperson from Tasmania Police said investigations into the circumstances of the crash are continuing.

Monday: The five young people hospitalised after a horror crash that killed four horses on Monday morning were returning from a harness meeting in Hobart.

Leading trainer Ben Yole took to Facebook to confirm those involved in the crash, aged 14-20, belonged to his stable.

“Unfortunately, we can confirm that some of our team were involved in a serious accident last night,” Yoles Harness Racing Stables posted.

“We have had a lot of people reaching out offering support. We would just like to thank you and ask that at this time we all have some space to navigate our way through.

“We will update as updates become available.”  

Ben Yole.

Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash on the Batman Highway, Rowella at 1.45am.

Tasmania Police investigations found a white Ford Ranger towing a horse float with four horses had left the road and crashed into a tree stump

The five occupants of the Ranger were transported to the Launceston General Hospital.

An 18-year-old rear passenger was found to have serious injuries and is set to be flown to Melbourne for further treatment.

The crash scene at Rowella.

A 17-year-old passenger who suffered head injuries has been transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital for further treatment.

Two of the horses died immediately following the crash and another two had to be euthanised at the scene.

Officer in Charge of the North East division Ruth Orr said the ute, driven by a 20-year-old woman from Rowella, veered off to the right side of the road and crashed into the stump.

“It appears probably fatigue,” Inspector Orr said when asked what police believed was the cause of the crash.

Tasmania Police Inspector Ruth Orr. Picture: Alex Treacy

“They had been in Hobart attending a race meeting, and at the conclusion of the race meeting they were travelling back to I believe Rowella. So they were not far from home.

“They have all suffered injuries to varying degrees, some more serious than others.”

Inspector Orr said a new iPhone feature, which pings emergency services if it believes its owner has been involved in a crash, alerted police of the incident.

Police, who were in the area for an unrelated matter, were able to be at the scene in eight minutes.

“In a case like this, where potentially people may have lost consciousness in a crash like that, it’s certainly something that alerts emergency services fairly quickly,” Inspector Orr said.

Inspector Orr said the owners of a horse which had to be euthanised at the scene arrived to say their goodbyes.

“It’s distressing for people to see animals that are injured and suffering.”

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.

Anyone who saw the Ford Ranger and horse float prior to the crash or has information is asked to contact Northern Crash Investigation Services via 131 444.

Information can be provided to Crimestoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.