A pony towing a cart died instantly when it collided with a parked car in Chippenham.
Police were called to the scene in Methuen Park shortly before 2pm yesterday (Friday, July 23) following reports of the dead animal and damage to a parked Range Rover.
The vet from Hale Equine Vets in Lacock raced to the incident, but the pony had already died from the injuries it sustained on impact.
The two occupants of the cart which the animal was towing reportedly fled the scene. One is believed to be an adult, whilst the other is said to be a child.
The vehicle’s owner was at home at the time of the fatal collision but had no idea it had happened.
“I didn’t see it happen; the first thing I knew of it was when a lady – who was almost hysterical – knocked on my door to tell me there was a dead horse in front of my car,” the resident, who did not wish to be named, said.
Continuing, he added: “I went straight out and it had obviously died on impact with my car.
“It looked like a lot of damage to my car, but I’ve managed to pull the bumper out quite a bit. Though it’s probably going to need a new bumper and bonnet.
“The pony was still attached to a small two-seater cart and the people on it had run away.”
CCTV seen by Wiltshire 999s appears to shows two males, an adult and a child, fleeing the scene on foot within seconds of the collision.
Wiltshire Police says it has launched an investigation into the incident.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We were called at just before 2pm yesterday (23/07) to the TK Maxx on Bath Road Retail Park, Chippenham, to a road traffic collision involving a horse and trap and a parked car.
“It is reported that two men have abandoned the cart and sadly, the horse has died at the scene.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and our enquiries are ongoing.
“We ask that any witnesses call 101 and quote crime reference number 54210071435.”
