Formerly abused horse hit, killed by SUV in Summerville

One of four horses that was at the center of an abuse case in Summerville this year escaped from its pen on Sunday at was killed by a car, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The collision is under investigation with both the highway patrol and Berkeley County Animal Control office and charges may be pending.

At 9:35 p.m. Sunday, a 2008 Ford SUV was traveling east on Old Dairy Road in Summerville when the horse ran into the roadway. The driver, the only occupant of the vehicle, was not injured.

The horse belonged to Dwight Benjamin McCloud of 1181 Old Dairy Road in Summerville.

In March, McCloud was charged with seven counts of neglect of four horses. Two severely starved and injured horses were taken in by LEARN horse rescue. Two others, less malnourished, were left in McCloud’s care under the condition that they be monitored by Berkeley County Animal Control for six months, despite LEARN’s offer to take them too.

McCloud pleaded guilty to five of the charges in Berkeley County Magistrate’s Court and was fined a total of $5,462.50 in April. The remaining two charges were dropped.

Berkeley County officers were at McCloud’s home to investigate on Tuesday, said Berkeley County Planning Director Eric Greenway, who is over the Animal Control department.

“I won’t know the details until I see the officers’ report and the pictures to know what type of action, if any, we are going to take against the property owner,” Greenway said. He expected to know by the end of the day Tuesday.

“Any time an animal gets harmed it’s a sensitive situation, but given the history with this particular piece of property this one’s a little more so,” he said. ““Obviously we are concerned about the conditions out there but we can’t really make any final determinations until I have the full report back from my officers.”

Elizabeth Steed, founder of LEARN, said she was devastated by the news.

“I feel responsible, like I should have done more,” she said. “At this point, the horse is dead and it’s consuming to me.”

She said she offered McCloud $500 for the remaining pony on Monday, but did not get a response from him. A friend donated an additional $500 toward the effort Monday night.

“The horse that was hit Sunday was still there and not buried,” she said. “I offered to have somebody bury the horse if he’d sell me the pony. Now I am waiting to hear what the county is going to do because I don’t think Mr. McCloud is going to sell the pony to us just for spite.”