A horse, which escaped its pasture along SR 13 south of Syracuse, was struck by a vehicle at 2:26 a.m. today and had to be put down.

The accident was just west of North Grandview Drive, in the area of Lakeland Animal Clinic of Lake Wawasee.

Syracuse Police Officer Joe Salazar was the first officer at the scene. He found the horse was in very poor condition from the collision. He then put the equine down. The horse was owned by Dr. Richard Brungardt, North SR 13, Syracuse.

According to the county sheriff’s department report, Michael E. VanHalst, 29, South Main Street, Churubusco, was traveling on SR 13 and did not see the horse until his vehicle struck the animal.

VanHalst was not injured even though airbags in his vehicle had deployed.

Brungardt, who was at the scene, used a tractor to remove the equine from the roadway.

VanHalst noted he had just purchased the vehicle, replacing a previous vehicle which had been totaled after hitting a deer.

Damage has been estimated up to $25,000.