Four thoroughbred horses are dead after a trailer fire broke out along a Central Kentucky freeway this week, officials said.
According to the Bardstown Fire Department, the blaze took place Monday morning along the Bluegrass Parkway which runs along portions of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Just before 6:30 a.m., firefighters along with crews from Nelson County Fire and Rescue, responded to a report of a horse trailer on fire at the 20 mile marker along the highway, but when they arrived they found nothing at the reported scene, Bardstown officials reported in a statement on Facebook.
“Additional information obtained by dispatch advised” the wreck took place about nine miles from that spot, according to the statement.
Fact check:Massachusetts church hosted thrift shop, not Pride event, before fire
4 horses die, 4 survive
When crews arrived on that scene, they found a horse trailer with flames shooting out of it and shut down the parkway.
Eight horses were inside the trailer, and the employees of the hauling company driving the trailer were able to get four of the horses out to safety before fire crews arrived.
Four horses died in the fire, officials said.
Fire officials say rear trailer brakes overheated
Nelson County Fire and Rescue Chief Billy Mattingly told USA TODAY Wednesday the trailer was headed to Lexington and investigators determined the fire started after the rear trailer brakes overheated.
One of the rescued horses, Mattingly said, suffered cuts to its legs trying to flee the blaze.
No other major injuries were reported.
NYC business fire:4 people dead, 2 critically injured after lithium-ion battery causes fire at e-bike shop
Horses valued at $750,000, officials said
The fire shut down the parkway for about one hour.
The thoroughbreds that died had an estimated value of $750,000, the fire department said.
Fire investigators deemed the trailer, valued at $250,000, a total loss.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.