Box driver seriously injured and winning filly killed in road crash

A horsebox driver is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being involved in a head-on road collision, in which the David O'Meara-trained filly Lincoln Pride was killed.

A man in his 20s who was driving the other vehicle involved in the collision suffered serious injuries while his female passenger was also hurt.

The accident occurred as Diane Jackson was driving the three-year-old back to O'Meara's yard in North Yorkshire after winning the opening 6f handicap at Yarmouth on Sunday as 4-7 favourite.

"My horsebox was involved in a crash," O'Meara confirmed. "The horse was killed and the driver Diane Jackson is injured.

"She's conscious but is still being assessed. She's been with me for eight or nine years and everyone in the yard is very upset. It's an awful thing to happen."

The collision between the horsebox and a black Range Rover happened on the A47 Acle Straight at about 3.45pm, according to Norfolk Police.

The horsebox ended up in a ditch and Lincoln Pride died at the scene. Jackson was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, while the driver of the Range Rover was taken to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.

The stretch of road where the accident occurred was closed for about seven hours.

Lincoln Pride, who was owned by GPS Heart Of Racing (Bloodstock) Ltd, was a three-time winner this year at Doncaster, Newcastle and Yarmouth.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and contact PC Callum Walchester on 101 or via email at callum.walchester@suffolk.police.uk quoting incident NC-21082022-292.

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