Horse leg trapped under trailer floor on I-75; Brodhead and Mt. Vernon firefighters rescue animal

Fire crews responded after a horse’s leg became trapped beneath the floor of a traveling livestock trailer on Interstate 75 near Mount Vernon. The horse was sedated by a local veterinarian before firefighters stabilized the trailer area for removal and transport.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

A horse’s leg became trapped beneath the floor of a livestock trailer while the animal was traveling on Interstate 75 near Mount Vernon, according to the Brodhead Fire Department. Fire officials said the incident occurred the evening of July 2, around 5:30 p.m.

In response to the call, the Mt. Vernon Fire Department and the Brodhead Fire Department arrived at the scene and requested assistance from a local veterinarian, Rock Vet, to help manage the situation safely. Fire officials said the veterinarian was needed to sedate the horse while crews worked to free the trapped leg.

Crews said that once the horse was secure, firefighters used plywood from their own collapse trailer to help stabilize the floor area. Officials described the plywood as part of an effort to protect the animal and prevent further movement or damage while the leg was freed.

After firefighters completed the extraction, the horse was transported to Rock Vet for additional treatment, according to the department. Fire officials said the veterinarian continued care before the horse was released to its owner.

The rescue operation relied on coordination between fire departments and veterinary staff to address both the physical entrapment and the safety risks involved in working around a stressed, large animal on a major highway.

The Brodhead Fire Department said it was able to complete the removal and stabilize the area using equipment already available to crews, allowing the horse to be taken for follow-up medical care. No additional injuries involving people were described in the report.

Why It Matters

The incident highlights the public-safety risks and response coordination required when livestock accidents occur on Interstate 75.
Because the horse required sedation, the rescue shows the importance of rapid access to veterinary care during time-sensitive entrapment situations.
Using stabilization equipment such as plywood reflects how fire services manage secondary hazards that can arise when structures shift or fail.
The episode also underscores how highway travel can be affected by emergency operations involving large animals, requiring careful scene control to protect both rescuers and motorists.

Sources

(WKYT)

Key Facts

A horse’s leg was trapped under the floor of a livestock trailer while the trailer was traveling on Interstate 75 near Mount Vernon, according to the Brodhead Fire Department.
The incident occurred July 2 at about 5:30 p.m., the department said.
Mt. Vernon Fire Department and Brodhead Fire Department responded to the scene.
Crews requested help from a local veterinarian, Rock Vet, to sedate the horse during the rescue.
Firefighters used plywood from their collapse trailer to secure the floor area once the horse was safe.
After the leg was freed, the horse was transported to Rock Vet for treatment and later released to its owner.