OPP, transport driver ensure animals uninjured after horses enter Highway 401

During today’s early morning commute, drivers on Highway 401 westbound in Quinte West were surprised to see two horses running on the highway.

The Quinte West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to reports of vehicles almost striking the horses and swerving to avoid them near Glen Miller Road, about an hour west of Kingston.

According to a release from the OPP, officers arrived on scene at approximately 5:45 a.m. on Friday, Jun. 17, 2022, and the highway had to be closed for a short period of time. Reportedly, a transport truck driver assisted in cutting off the horses, at which point the officers were able to secure them using rescue rope from the police vehicles. 

The horses were uninjured, and escorted to the 401 Westbound Enroute where they were held until the owner attended and retrieved them at approximately 8:45 a.m., police said.

And as traffic resumed its usual high volume in the area, drivers on Ontario’s busiest highway were reminded they aren’t always the only ones that enter the highway with extra horsepower!