Two horses die and riders injured in road crash in Cumbria

A 70-year-old pensioner has been charged with drink driving after two riders were injured and their horses killed in a road accident in Cumbria on Friday (1 July).

The collision happened where the junction 39 slip road off the M6 near Shap joins another road, at 6.15pm.

One of the riders, a man in his 60s, suffered serious injuries to his chest and leg and a minor injury to his head and was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for treatment.

The second rider, a woman in her 50s, sustained a minor knee injury and was also taken to hospital.

One of the horses died in the accident, while the other was badly injured and had to be put to sleep by a vet.

Police confirmed later that Harold Birtwhistle, 70, of Rectory Lane, Standish, Wigan, had been charged with drink-driving in his Jaguar car.

Birtwhistle also faces a count of driving without due care and attention and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and was bailed to appear before Carlisle Magistrates Court on 18 July.

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