Hundreds of sheep dead after truck rollover outside Horsham in western Victoria

Police say around 250 sheep are dead, with some euthanased on the side of the road, after a multideck truck carrying around 600 head overturned this morning south-west of Horsham.

WARNING: This article contains images that readers may find upsetting

The truck, which was travelling north along Noradjuha-Horsham Road, lost control and overturned while travelling through an S-bend south of Three Bridges Road.

“Some of [the sheep] were thrown from the truck and at the moment we are in the process of releasing the rest of them,” Horsham Police Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Mick Ryan said.

“Investigations are still ongoing, we’re going to be here for quite some time.

“The first priority is to rescue the sheep that are alive and get rid of the ones that are deceased.”

Department of Primary Industry staff and rangers from Horsham Rural City Council were assisting to euthanase the sheep.

The 31-year-old truck driver from Echuca sustained minor injuries and was conveyed to Horsham Hospital for treatment.

Police say the road will be closed for most of the day.

“We won’t know until we’ve had a further chat with the driver; later on today we hope to have a chat with him and establish what he’s said happened,” Acting Sergeant Ryan said.

“We will clear the scene, which will be prolonged, and then [Regional Roads Victoria] will come along, inspect the road and make sure it is safe to reopen.”