Officer Involved in Wreck, Fell Asleep at the Wheel

Christina Cole

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The S.C. Highway Patrol has concluded, a Columbia police officer involved in a February car crash that killed two police horses, had fallen asleep at the wheel.

On February 8, the Officer was traveling in his Chevy pickup truck towing a horse trailer on his way to the department's stable, when his pickup drifted onto the right shoulder crashing into a pine tree.

The officer was trapped inside the cab of the truck and the horses Beorn and Shiloh were both ejected from the trailer.

A portion of officer's statement to investigators reads: "I remember seeing a car make a left turn in front of me. I continued on, and I was feeling a little tired. Next thing I remember was waking up and realizing that I was involved in a collision."

Shiloh, a 1,000-pound quarter horse that had served the department since 1992, died instantly.

Beorn, a 2,600-pound English shire -- a large, powerful draft horse -- that had served the department since 2001, died shortly after.

The department just received the MAIT report and it is being reviewed. No further specifics will be released until after internal affairs have completed their investigation.