Escaped horse on A3 prompt road closure in Wisley

A horse loose on the A3 prompted a temporary road closure in Surrey, police have said.

A Surrey Police spokesperson said officers were called to reports of a horse on the southbound carriageway of the A3 at Wisley, near Portsmouth Road, at about 07:35 GMT on Tuesday.

The animal had escaped from a nearby field, forcing the road to close while it was safely moved to a nearby service station.

Police said a three-vehicle collision separately occurred on the A3 while the incident was ongoing and one person was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Officers attended the scene alongside the South East Coast Ambulance Service and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.

Driving instructor Michael Rose told BBC Radio Surrey he was driving on the A3 at about 06:30 when he saw a horse galloping into the outside lane.

“Unbelievably, some drivers were still trying to overtake it, so I felt I had to do something,” he said.

“I used my van to shield the horse and, with the help of a recovery truck driver, we managed to keep it safely at the side of the road until the emergency services arrived.”

Rose added the horse was frightened at first but once it calmed down it started grazing on the verge.

“It was disappointing to see drivers trying to pass the horse because these animals can move unpredictably and very quickly,” he said.

“The situation could easily have ended in a fatality for either the horse or a motorist.”

The road has since reopened.

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