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3 Loose Horses Struck, Killed On NB 280 Near Stanford

PALO ALTO (CBS SF) -- Three horses were killed after they ran onto northbound Interstate Highway 280 near Stanford Saturday morning, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The horses were first reported on the highway near Alpine Road at 4:50 a.m., according to CHP Officer James Evans.

A vehicle reportedly hit one or more of the horses shortly thereafter, followed by a second vehicle that hit one of the horses that was down in the slow lane, Evans said.

The second vehicle overturned after hitting a horse. One vehicle occupant complained of pain and was taken to Stanford Hospital, Evans said.

A Sig-alert was issued at 5:46 a.m., shutting down northbound traffic until the alert was canceled just before 7 a.m., Evans said.

County animal control officials responded to the scene and the horses were towed off the road, Evans said.

Although three horses were killed on the roadway, a fourth horse was found alive down the road, apparently unharmed, Evans said.

Evans said authorities are trying to track down the horses' owner.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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