TENNESSEE -- After two crashes, which killed several horses, Lebanon based Three Angels Farms has been ordered to stop transporting animals by the government.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said on Friday that Three Angels Farms and its owners, Edwin Ayache and Dorian Ayache, were ordered to immediately stop all transportation series, as they post an "imminent hazard to public safety".
Earlier this month, a section of 440 westbound was closed for hours after a trailer hauling 36 horses overturned just outside Nashville. In January of this year, another wreck caused the deaths of four horses after a trailer overturned on Interstate 40.
"Safety is always our top priority," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "If a truck company ignores federal safety rules and places the traveling public at risk, we will remove them from the road."
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| Concentration camp for horses bound for slaughter |
After an investigation, officials discovered multiple federal violations of driver qualification requirements, drug and alcohol testing and vehicle maintenance. The investigation also discovered that Three Angels Farms let driver operate the trailers with commercial driver's licenses and without proper drug tests.
"This strong enforcement action is an example of how we are working to keep all travelers on our highways and roads safe," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "We will continue to use every resource within our current authority to weed out the unsafe operators."
(NewsChannel5 - June 29, 2012)
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