Several loose horses were hurt after getting struck by a car Wednesday morning.

A deputy was dispatched to County Road 6 about two miles east of Highway 218, at about 8:30 a.m. There was a vehicle in the eastbound lane facing west, which had damage to the front passenger-side bumper, the front passenger-side fender, the door area and the windshield, according to Mower County Chief Deputy Mark May.

The driver, from the Lyle area, reported he was traveling west on County Road 6 when another vehicle traveling toward him flashed its headlights at him. The driver thought he had his high-beams on and continued driving. He then came upon six horses loose on the road, hit his brakes but could not avoid hitting one or more of the horses. The horses’ caretaker was trying to round up the loose animals at the time of the incident, and the vehicle that had flashed its lights was trying to warn other drivers of the problem.

Three horses had leg injuries, according to the report. The driver was not hurt.