Animal mission

Runaway horse grazing along the Westautobahn highway

The horse grazed calmly next to the highway - attracting the attention of many passing drivers.(Bild: DOKU-NÖ)

Early on Sunday morning, attentive drivers on the Westautobahn (A1) in Lower Austria were astonished when a horse suddenly appeared next to the busy roadway.

The runaway animal was near the Völlerndorf rest stop (St. Pölten district) and had been grazing on a grass verge right next to the guard rail, completely relaxed. The emergency services arrived immediately to stop the horse from getting onto the road.

Owner tracked down
Finally, ASFINAG employees cut a hole in an adjacent deer fence. With combined forces, the horse was guided through the hole onto the field behind it and the fence was then closed again.

The owner, from whom the horse had escaped, has since been traced. According to the police, the horse was not on the road. Furthermore, there was no danger at any time, they say.