4 Reining Horses Dead in Nevada Trailer Accident

Four reining horses were killed and two people were injured in a crash while on the way to a horse show in Las Vegas, their trainer says.

Nicole Renick Johnson said the incident happened on Wednesday, Sept. 4, on Route 318 while three truck-and-trailer rigs from Washington were on their way to the High Roller Reining Classic. A southbound rig driven by Nicole’s and Adam Johnson’s assistants was forced off the highway at about 7:30 a.m. by another vehicle.

Nicole Renick’s horse trailer that was involved in the crash. * Photo from Nicole Renick

Nicole said she was driving one vehicle, Adam drove another and their two assistants drove the third rig after an overnight stop in Ely, Nevada.

Only one of their vehicles was involved in the incident she said. The two assistants within the wrecked vehicle escaped with minor injuries. One with a fractured thumb and the other with a sprained ankle according to Nicole.

Four of the six horses in the trailer died, she said.

“Two are at the vet hospital, both of those two horses will make it,” Nicole said. “One had minor cuts and wounds, the other one had quite a bit of damage to the one side of his face but he’s put together and both of them will be fine.

Authorities have not returned phone calls seeking more extensive crash details of the crash or the condition of the other driver said to be involved.

“It was a terrible day, but at the end of the day, I’m glad that the two girls that were in that truck came out alive,” Nicole said. “Because I don’t know how they did it, it was definitely a miracle.

“We’ll move on. Everybody’s been so supportive so we’ll get through it, and move on and that’s all we can do.”