Highway horseback rider struck and killed by tractor trailer

A man and his horse are dead after being struck by a tractor trailer while riding on an Idaho highway. 

The accident happened at 8:23 p.m. on Monday, September 18th near Idaho Falls, Idaho. 

According to East Idaho News, a 56-year-old man was riding a horse northbound on Old Butte Highway when a northbound 1998 Peterbilt tractor trailer struck his horse from behind. The force of the impact threw the man from the horse. 

Both the man and the horse succumbed to their injuries and died as a result of the wreck. 

The incident is still under investigation by the Idaho State Police.