Hünstetten (dpa/lhe) - On Saturday night near Hünstetten (Rheingau-Taunus district) on a federal road, a car drove into a group of free-roaming horses. According to the police, one animal died directly in the accident. A second horse had to be euthanized on site by a veterinarian. The occupants of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital.

According to the police's initial findings, the animals had left their pasture during the night and walked onto the federal highway 417. The driver of the car was not able to brake in time and drove into the animals. The remaining five horses in the group were caught by the horse owner after the accident. It is still unclear why the animals were able to leave their pasture at night. The police investigation is ongoing.