NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A new investigation has begun concerning a horse trailer that wrecked on the interstate Monday night.
Three horses were killed when a semi carrying three dozen horses flipped on its side on Interstate 40 near Highway 96.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Officials charged the driver, Mance Frank Reed, with unsafe operation of a vehicle, failure to exercise due care, and driving fatigued. It's believe he fell asleep at the wheel. He also received citations for brake violations, frame violation, and tire violation on the trailer unsafe were pending against him.
The owner of those horses could soon be facing charges as well. Dorian Ayache owns Three Angels Farm in Lebanon. He claimed to be a horse buyer and seller and told NewsChannel 5 that the horses were headed to a feed lot in Oklahoma.
NewsChannel 5 learned late Wednesday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has launched an investigation in this case. Officials there said Ayache does not have a valid license to conduct interstate commerce.
Officials agency said Ayache failed a safety audit, and that he should not have been conducting business via the interstate outside of Tennessee.
A local veterinarian said the horses were being shipped humanely. However, the USDA said the average number of horses to be shipped on a trailer of that size is 22.
Past Stories:
