Authorities are looking into whether a discarded cigarette from a passing vehicle on Interstate 95 sparked a fire in a trailer that killed six thoroughbred horses.
North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper K.B. Heath said the drivers of a tractor-trailer traveling from Florida to New York pulled the vehicle over after discovering smoke coming from the trailer Friday evening on I-95 about three miles south of Rocky Mount.
He said straw and hay inside the trailer ignited and the men were unable to get the horses out. The co-driver of the vehicle suffered minor burns. Traffic backed up five miles while fire officials put out the blaze.
Heath said a preliminary investigation indicates the possibility the fire started from a discarded cigarette as no electrical problems with the truck were found.
Topics North Carolina
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Massive Wildfire Liabilities Push Utilities to Use AI to Stop Blazes 
Homesellers Pull Listings Off Market as Interest Fades 
More Federal Legislation Introduced to Tackle Third-Party Lit Funding 
Ex-Lloyd’s CEO Lost $17 Million AIG Job After Office Romance 
