NORTH JACKSON — The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Canfield Post is investigating two accidents in which stray horses were struck and killed by vehicles Tuesday evening along Mahoning Avenue in Jackson and Milton townships.

According to Jackson Township police Chief Greg Tallion, the first crash took place about 6:20 p.m. in Milton Township in front of the Jackson-Milton Middle School where a driver struck and killed one of the horses that escaped from a corral of a Duck Creek Road residence. Injured in that accident was a 6-year-old girl who was taken to University Hospital in Ravenna and later released.

Within a half hour, two other horses were struck and killed by another vehicle traveling on Mahoning Avenue between Duck Creek and Bailey roads. One of the horses carried a foal that was also killed, Tallion said.

Also, the female driver, 17, was taken to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Tallion said Mahoning Avenue between the middle school and Bailey Road had to be closed for a few hours while first responders cleared the wreckage and the horses from the roadway.

Tallion said township police officers helped to rescue the other horses, one of which was found near the post office in North Jackson.

The patrol is investigating the accidents, Tallion said, and will probably file a full report within a few days.