Water break floods road, draws horse

A water main break flooded U.S. Highway 93, snarled traffic and attracted a thirsty farm animal. 

Drivers along U.S. Highway 93 outside Pablo were treated to an unusual sight on the morning of Sept. 29, after a water main break flooded the roadway, snarled traffic and attracted thirsty farm animal. 

Patrick Sorrell, manager of the Pablo Water and Sewer District, said contractors were working to install a neon sign outside Two Eagle River High School when a grounding pole pierced an eight-inch water main, creating a large puddle in the northbound lanes of the highway.

Sorrell said he was attempting to block traffic to keep cars from hydroplaning off the road, when a horse appeared on the scene.  

“It came and started drinking in the middle of the highway,” Sorrell said. “It was a pretty funny sight.” 

Eventually law enforcement officers were able to corral the horse and return it to its rightful home, where Sorrell said its water trough was empty. 

Aside from the few minutes of mayhem, Sorrell said the water main was repaired quickly thanks to a fast response from TNM Trukkin’ and Excavating. He added that workers installing the sign did call about underground obstructions before they began digging, but the location of the pipe was mislabeled.