Police Probe Cruelty Claim in Roadside Horse Collapse in Amish Country

EPHRATA, Pa. (AP) — Police are investigating animal cruelty claims after a horse pulling a wagon loaded with watermelons collapsed and had to be euthanized along a central Pennsylvania highway.

Ephrata police confirm that part of the investigation involves a viral Facebook post that claims bystanders saw two men beating the horse after it fell and before it had to be euthanized. The incident happened about noon Tuesday.

Police Lt. Christopher McKim says police know who owns the horse and that he may face animal cruelty charges, but none have been filed. Bystanders have claimed the man injured the horse and caused it to fall.

Police believed the animal was overheated and called firefighters to spray the animal with water to cool it off, to no avail.

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