Police appeal for witnesses after horse dies following hit and run

Gloucestershire Police are appealing for witnesses and information in relation to a collision in Newent yesterday, Monday 7th March, which involved a vehicle and a horse.

A vehicle struck the horse at around 4pm on Clifford’s Mesne, near to The International Centre for Birds of Prey.

The rider, a 19-year-old woman, was thrown from the horse and went to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be serious. She was later discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.

The horse received veterinary treatment but due to the injuries sustained it was later euthanised.

Inquiries are ongoing to identify the driver of the vehicle, which is reported to have been a silver or grey Vauxhall.

It is believed the motorist, who did not stop at the scene, was a man aged in his 30s and was wearing a hi-vis at the time.

At around 4.45pm, a short while after the collision, an abandoned vehicle was found alight nearby. Enquiries are ongoing to determine whether this was the vehicle involved.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Officers are also keen to hear from anyone who may have dashcam footage of the vehicle or who saw the driver leaving the scene.

Information can be provided to police online by completing the following form and quoting incident 298 of 7 March:https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/You can also call police on 101.