Horse Dies After Falling Out of Trailer on I-205

(SUNNYBROOK) - A horse died Friday morning after falling out of the back of its trailer northbound on Interstate 205 at the Sunnybrook overpass south of Portland.

Preliminary investigation indicates the horse kicked at the back door causing the door to open and the horse fell out onto the freeway.

911 calls about the injured horse in the northbound lanes of Interstate 205 near milepost 14 started coming in around 8:20 AM, drawing response from Oregon State Police troopers, Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies and Highway Department crews.

Upon arrival, deputies and troopers found a critically injured horse in the center northbound lane. Due the severity of the horse's injuries and obvious suffering, officers stopped traffic and put the horse down.

Traffic was getting through the area using the left freeway shoulder until all lanes were reopened about 9:25 AM.

Police say the horse, a black Morgan Arab about ten years old, was one of three horses being transported from Sisters, Oregon to Washington State for a horse show.

The horses were in a 2006 Silverlite horse trailer towed by a 1999 Ford F450 motorhome driven by 41-year old Kristine Yozamp of Bend. The horse owner was not present in the motorhome.

As the vehicles were northbound, Yozamp told investigators that she could tell the horses were acting up and she was attempting to slow down to move to the freeway shoulder when a passing motorist was frantically motioning to her to stop.

It was then that she discovered the horse had fallen out of the back of the trailer onto the freeway.

A passenger car driving behind the trailer was struck on the right side by the horse when it fell out, resulting in minimal damage to the car. It is believed no other vehicles struck the severely injured horse.

Police say an examination of the trailer revealed that the horse was kicking at the locked rear door when it apparently bowed in to the point that it opened, and the horse fell out.

The other two horses were transported in the same trailer after a Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputy secured the damaged door with rope. The horses were taken to a neaby location.

Oregon Department of Transportation teams handled removal of the dead horse after it was moved to the side of the freeway.

The horse's death was seen as an unfortunate incident and no people were considered to be at fault.

Salem-News.com Top Stories

2025: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

Two Wars with No Way Out

No One Owns the Future

The Ugly Origins of Trump's America First Policy

A One-State Solution Could Transform the World

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

kristy Yozamp January 3, 2011 10:37 am (Pacific time)

Silverlite was sued and was awarded $35K! Bad Trailer...

ILOVEHORSES! March 10, 2010 10:36 pm (Pacific time)

I HATE YOU ALL. MY MOM KRISTY YOZAMP DOES SO MUCH. I HAVE BEEN RIDING HORSES SINCE I WAS 5 AND LET ME TELL YOU ME MY MOM AND AUBYN KNOW HOW TO FREAKING LATCH A HORSE TRAILER DOOR. PLUS WE HAD ALREADY BEEN DRIVING 3 HOURS! DONT YA THINK THE DOOR WOULD HAVE ALREADY OPENED IF WE DIDNT LATCH IT YOU RETARDS! I WAS 13 WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I DONT THINK ANY ONE KNOWS HOW DEVISTATED I WAS, I LOST ANOTHER ONE OF MY BELOVED HORSES A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. I WAS DEPRESSED FOR MONTHS AND YOU DONT KNOW HOW MUCH THAT HORSE MENT TO ME. SHOWNY( THE HORSE) WAS A BRILLIANT, TALENTED MARE WORTH MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU GUYS MAKE IN A YEAR. YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, SO I WOULD SAY SHUTUP AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS YOU WERE NOT THERE. YOU DONT KNOW ANY THING. THE FACTS ARE ABOVE SO DONT MAKE UP CRAP. RIP SHOWNEY, YOU WERE A FANTASTIC MARE THAT EVERY ONE LOVED AND CARED ABOUT. I MISS YOU. AND IM SURE YOUR HAVING A GRAND TIME IN HORSIE HEAVEN! WITH ROMEO AND JULEZ! I LOVE YOU! OHH AND PS. YOU "HORSE HATERS" HAHA WELL MOST OF THEM ARE MUCH SMARTER THAN YOU, SO I WOULDNT BE TALKING SO MUCH CRAP ABOUT THERE AMAZING ANIMALS. MUCH MORE AMAZING THAN YOU WILL EVER BE.

Wow March 22, 2009 1:52 pm (Pacific time)

I'm shock at how many people are saying horses are stupid and that this one committed suicide. How stupid are YOU? You really think that the horse was thinking "oh I'm on a road, I think I'll kick the door open and fall out, because I want to die". No. I'm so beyond disappointed in humanity.

old cd player '95 February 6, 2009 8:27 pm (Pacific time)

I saw on tv that another stupid horse tried to get out of a trailer and had its leg out and its head. then another one who had its head stuck in a tree. like how stupid are these cretins anyways? its called a brain horse try using it sometime!

iron butterfly January 24, 2009 1:34 am (Pacific time)

I agree with the awesome horse hater guy/girl. and to the rest of you pathetic horse lovers there is nothing wrong with hating these stupid animals. everyone is entitled to their own opinion and well me and the horse hater guy both hate these disgusting wastes of life so suck it up or slit your wrists if you cant take it! so we dont like thes four legged shit machines.big deal.

horselover February 26, 2007 8:26 pm (Pacific time)

Its nice to have a horse friend,but when they die you are very sad and when its your fault you feel a thousand times worse and wish you could hove stoped it.....

Kristine Yozamp February 5, 2007 1:23 pm (Pacific time)

Yes, I am the person that was pulling this trailer and a good friend lead me to this site. As always their are two sides to the story! First, I was not sited for any wrong doing. The horse was properly securred in the trailer with a trialer tie and halter. The trailer door was locked and the "lock" was still attached to the door after the accident. Hmmm... Per a long investigation that included lawyers, police and highway patrol they concluded that the door was kicked and the middle of the door buckeld and flew open. Yes, their is a pending lawsuit against the trailer company. I love these animals with all my heart and soul! I held dear little Shownee in my lap for over a half hour before we had to put her down. I feel that this horse will live forever in my heart and soul! I'm very passionate about horses and hold them in the highest regards. I would not wish this on anyone. Everyday I learn something new when it comes to owning a horse, but I alway put their best interest at heart! I agree with the person that said-I don't agree with a single door. Shownee was a pony and was able to kick the door open. A butt bar would have help! Thank you for your "Nice" comments!

yuliya January 29, 2007 5:42 pm (Pacific time)

that is sooooooooooo sad. how did the horse fall out was the traler open those crool people

TXHorseLover October 25, 2006 11:52 am (Pacific time)

I lost my best equine friend in 1994. I raised him from a foal and still miss him to this day. How dare anyone say that horses are stupid. You must be a lonely soul to have never experienced the connection between a human being and their equine friend. I'm quite sure the owner was heartbroken when she realized what happened to her horse. It's always best to check and be sure both horse and trailer are securely tied, hooked up, locked or whatever the case may be. Perhaps this was just a freak accident.

JE September 22, 2006 11:25 am (Pacific time)

Doesn't it sound possible someone may have not hooked the back up correctly. Motor homes should not pull horse trailers one reason possibly they could not hear the horse raising hell. But it sounds like things were not hooked up correctly probably by accident.

Becca September 20, 2006 5:12 am (Pacific time)

Wow! I can not believe all of you arguing like this. to the people who dont care or have any feelings of sadness for what has happened to this persons beautiful companion please do not leave any more comments. people who like to upset the mornful are wicked inside.I feel we should all just stop arguing and maby think about the person who's life changed for ever because of this. poor owner. I din't know what I would do if my AQHA was the one who had something like that happen to him.

Meg September 14, 2006 4:16 pm (Pacific time)

Um, I highly doubt that the horse made a consious decision to 1.) kick down the trailer door and 2.) JUMP OUT? I'm don't think any animal makes a decision like that (I'm excluding humans). Horses are actually very intelligent and unless you've been around them and worked with them a level to see that intelligence, you are making comments without any basis at all. Horses are flight animals and will run or try to escape from tight spaces on pure instincts. After they are far enough away, they stop and think what happened.

TXProud September 14, 2006 9:19 am (Pacific time)

To Horse Hater.. You are a disgrace to the human race, and aren't worthy to comment on such a magnificent creature.

Jim September 14, 2006 7:20 am (Pacific time)

Most trailers I've seen (including my Silverlite) have a butt bar or strap that is suppose to be used to keep a horse from backing out when the door is open. Also a horse should be secured with a halter and lead to the proper location in the trailer. I have over 30 years experience in metal fabrication and have owned 2 Silverlites and the quality and craftsmanship are second to none. That being said I've never been a fan of a full width rear door, and never under estimate the incredible power of a spooked horse.

mustangmom September 14, 2006 6:10 am (Pacific time)

It is too bad horse hater never had any friends as a child...they will never understand the animal as those of us to have true friends...

Anonymous September 12, 2006 2:45 pm (Pacific time)

Horse haters are ignorant human beings that don't deserve to breath air

Brandi September 12, 2006 10:37 am (Pacific time)

HorseHater, you are a vile and unintelligent creature for making such an unnecessary and ignorant comment. A horse commit suicide, what planet are you from??!! I pray you don't own any animals.

fellow horse owner September 11, 2006 5:44 am (Pacific time)

Brand new Silverlite trailer. Can you say lawsuit? There is no reason a horse should be able to kick out of the back of a well built trailer. How tragic and sad. I'll be marking Silverlite off my list of future horse trailer purchases.

texan September 10, 2006 7:30 pm (Pacific time)

damn yankees,the horse didn't commit suicide nor did the people kill it!!!!!

Hank Ruark September 10, 2006 3:46 pm (Pacific time)

Usually forebear on comment --but that first one caught my eye...and reminded me there are some animals more likable than some humans.

Albert Marnell September 10, 2006 12:22 am (Pacific time)

Animals are like children. They are sensitive and easily frightened and quick to anger. We have to look after animals. My Opa and Oma had a race horse. Animals are better than most people and it is very special when an animal can perform a task ordered by a human.

Matt September 9, 2006 7:07 pm (Pacific time)

HorseHater, I suppose if your back windows rolled all the way down and you left your kid unbuckled in the back of your car you would wonder the same thing about kids. Horses have emotions similar to people, they panic, they get confused, etc.

Matt September 9, 2006 12:08 am (Pacific time)

Congress is working hard to make sure we or the French do not eat this horse.

HorseHater September 8, 2006 10:47 pm (Pacific time)

Horses are vile and unintelligent creatures. What kind of animal would commit suicide like this?

[Return to Top]