A small car collided with a stray horse in Citrus Heights early Wednesday morning, killing the animal, according to the Metro Fire Department.
The department said four horses in total had escaped from their enclosure and were in the roadway at Auburn Boulevard and Hackney Way.
Shortly before 1 a.m., Metro Fire crews were called to the scene after a car collided with one of the full-sized horses.
The department said the force of the impact threw the horse onto the car's hood, crushing the windshield. The horse continued over the top of the car and did not survive the impact.
The three other horses in the road were not injured in the accident.
Three men who were in the car suffered minor to moderate injuries, and one of the men had to be freed from the car by crews on the scene. All three were taken to a nearby hospital.
