POLICE officers investigating a horror crash on the A14 which left one man and three horses dead have contacted the RSPCA as part of their inquiries.

Thomas Allen, 23, of Soham in Cambridgeshire, died at Ipswich Hospital on Christmas Day after the accident on the westbound carriageway, near to Sproughton.

Six horses strayed on to the road causing the crash at about 10.20pm on Christmas Eve.

Emergency services faced a scene of carnage when they arrived at the accident. Up to four cars were thought to have been in collision with the horses.

Mr Allen suffered critical head injuries and died the next day.

A 20-year-old woman who was the front-seat passenger was also taken to hospital but her injuries were not believed to be serious.

Three of the horses, one of them a mare in foal, died at the scene. Today one Sproughton resident, who asked not to be named, told The Star: “There have been a number of times when the horses have got out.

“Something needs to be done. What happened on the A14, a young life lost, can’t happen again.”

A Suffolk police spokeswoman added: “In general terms in relation to horses or livestock wandering out on to main roads it is the case that we will speak to the RSPCA.

“Depending on the severity of the case, there could be a multi-agency approach to any investigation.

“I can confirm we have been in contact with the RSPCA in connection with the incident on the A14 on Christmas Eve.”

A 26-year-old man arrested and questioned on suspicion of “endangering road users” has been released on police bail until February 28.