A major road in Surrey was plunged into chaos in the early hours of Thursday morning after a devastating collision resulted in the deaths of three horses. The incident has led to the closure of a key section of the A3, causing significant disruption for commuters.
Early Morning Collision Closes Major Route
Officers from Surrey Police were called to the A3 northbound, just north of Guildford, at approximately 1:40am on Thursday, 15 January 2026. The emergency call reported two loose horses involved in a crash with a large goods vehicle (LGV).
Shortly afterwards, a separate call was received concerning a collision between a car and a horse. Upon arrival at the scene, police discovered three horses had been killed.
Road Closure and Traffic Disruption
In response to the serious incident, National Highways implemented a full road closure between the A247 junction at Burntcommon and the B2039 turn-off for Ockham. The closure is on the A3 northbound carriageway.
The shutdown of this vital route has caused severe traffic delays, with long queues building during the morning rush hour. Drivers are being urged to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.
Ongoing Police Investigation
Surrey Police have confirmed that officers are engaging with the drivers of both the LGV and the car involved in the separate incidents. Enquiries into the exact circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
The force has not yet released details on how the horses came to be on the carriageway. The closure is expected to remain in place for several hours while investigation and recovery work are completed.
This is a developing story. Motorists are advised to check live traffic reports before travelling in the Surrey area.
