Quick actions save horse from injury in A34 blaze

Engine fire in pick-up truck pulling horse trailer

TWO quick-thinking women saved a horse from injury this afternoon (Mon) after a blaze broke out in a pick-up truck pulling a horse trailer on the A34 near East Ilsley.

One fire engine from Newbury was called at 2.45pm to the A34 northbound between Chievely and East Ilsley after a fire broke out in the engine compartment of a Isuzu pick-up truck, pulling a trailer containing a horse.

The two women in the pick-up truck managed to drive both vehicles into a layby, before pushing the horse trailer 20m away from the blazing pick-up truck.

The woman were aided by police who were in the vicinity as one of the women made an emergency call.

Firefighters discovered the pick-up truck well alight.

One firefighter wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze using a hosereel.

The horse was unhurt in the incident.

The carriageway was closed for ten minutes while firefighters extinguished the blaze.

The pick-up truck was destroyed in the blaze.

One lane was initially re-opened than the road was completely re-opened as firefighters left at 3.39pm.

Later this afternoon (Monday), at around 5pm, one lane of the A34 northbound at East Ilsley was closed again, due to a single vehicle accident, with traffic tailbacks.

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) were called at 5.38pm, and sent two ambulances to the scene,

Three people were treated for minor injuries.