A pair of horses were struck and killed after running out onto a freeway near Los Angeles and getting struck by traffic. A third horse was helped out by motorists.

The three horses ran onto the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 at around 9 p.m. Tuesday. 

The horses “likely came from one of the ranches near” Interstate 210, California Highway Patrol Officer Josh Greengard told the Southern California News Group.

“When we arrived on scene, unfortunately, we found a couple of separate scenes involving vehicles and deceased horses,” highway patrol Sgt. Frank Vargas told KTLA-TV.

The two cars that hit the horses stayed at the scene, with at least one occupant being taken to a local hospital for minor injuries, according to the Southern California News Group.

Unnamed good Samaritans were able to restrain the other horse.

“They’re kind of heroes in this case because if they had not wrangled that horse that horse would have traveled into traffic lanes,” Sgt. Vargas said.

Authorities did not say what happened to the surviving horse.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.