A ’TRULY horrific’ road accident in which two Dartmoor ponies died has highlighted alarming statistics about animal deaths on the moor, say campaigners.

The deaths of the pair in the incident last Friday (February 10) brought to seven the number of ponies that have died on Dartmoor’s roads so far this year — compared to 32 in the whole of 2016.

The owner of the ponies said she was ‘desperate’ to see some form of traffic calming introduced.

Karla McKechnie, of the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society, said: ’The figures put it into perspective — it’s horrendous. The message has got to get through: people have got to drive with care.’

Last week’s collision between a car and the two ponies happened near Dousland on the B3212 Yelverton to Princetown road.

’I’ve dealt with many, many deaths in this job,’ said Karla, ‘but I have never been to anything so distressing.’

She said one pony died instantly. The second animal was found 37.8 metres away with three broken legs,and died shortly after.

The accident happened shortly before 8.30pm on a clear night, she said, and the road had been gritted.

’Police were at the scene but they can’t do anything. There were no witnesses. The driver said he was going 40mph. The car was really badly written off. Both of its airbags had gone off.’

The owner of the ponies, Verity Nicholls, farms near Dousland. She said: ’It was truly horrific.

’I’m desperate, really. I wouldn’t want to see the moor fenced but I desperately want some form of traffic calming up there.’

The animals were pedigree Dartmoors and brought income to the farm as they were part of the conservation grazing scheme on the moor. Ponies sold for conservation grazing can be worth up to £500.

’But it’s not just a monetary or business thing,’ said Verity. ’I’m up there all the time and I get great pride in shouting for my ponies and watching them all come running. I feel like the Pied Piper.’

The accident happened shortly before three new speed warning signs — paid for by the Livestock Protection Society, the National Park Authority and Dartmoor Forest Parish Council — are to be put up, one near the site.

In 2016 there were 188 traffic accidents involving livestock on Dartmoor’s roads, of which 160 resulted in the deaths of animals — 123 sheep, 32 ponies and five cows.

So far in 2017 there have been 10 fatal accidents, involving seven ponies and three sheep.