A little girl and her horse: A Forensic Cleaner's Story

The job doesn’t end at the office.

Whilst returning to base from a long hot day with a new recruit. I noticed a Truck 200 meters ahead impact with a large object on the highway.

As we approached, it became apparent a horse had run out in front of the large vehicle and been hit.

The truck was dishevelled sitting along the side of the road but other than shock the driver was unhurt.

The Horse lay across two lanes and cars speed past at 100 kms an hour so distracted by the carnage not thinking to slow down.

My technician and myself used our response van and its hazard lights to offer protection against the traffic still not slowing, but now spraying blood as they sped past.

We moved our attention to the poor animal which had been cut clean in half by the impact, the Horse was still aware and desperately trying to stand throwing its head from side to side. (this was one of the saddest things I have witnessed).

Both lanes were covered in blood and organs, Finally the cars were slowing allowing safe access to start removing the animal.

We began dragging the back part of the horse off the highway, it was extremely heavy and slippery from the carnage. I was grateful for our new techs strength and can do attitude.

By now the horse had passed and we moved its head and front legs off the highway.

Just as I was handling the huge heart from the bitumen a young girl rushed across from the direction the horse had come from, crying hysterically.

Her family followed her and comforted her as she stood over her best friend.

The story went that the horse was being unloaded from the trailer and something had spoked it, it had run down the drive onto the highway crossing two lanes successfully then meeting the truck on the other side.

We cleaned up the best we could and waited for main roads to attend to finish up.

Maybe this wasn’t a forensic clean, but I rate it with my most challenging days.