Echuca police say three horses dead - two hit by car - in late night motor vehicle collision

The 19-year-old male motorist was travelling east on the Murray Valley Highway late Friday when he struck the two animals, which had escaped from a nearby stud farm. 

The driver's injuries were described as minor and did not require medical attention, but both horses were killed on impact.  

Sergeant Neil Hodson from Echuca police station said a third horse was found injured this morning, believed to have been hurt bolting from its paddock, and was euthanised. 

"It'd scare the hell out of you, I reckon, coming across them at 100 kilometres an hour," Sergeant Hodson said. 

He said it was not clear how the animals got onto the road and while no offences were committed, the biggest penalty was for the stud farm, which had lost three of its prized animals. 

"They rely on these horses," he said.