Ohio pile up sees polo player William Tankard die as his girlfriend looked on

Home Top

'It was do something or die': American train-attack heroes tell how they foiled gunman... even after he sliced off one of their thumbs
Two female climbers, 27 and 28, killed in fall during daring climb of Teewinot mountain without safety ropes - but friend is saved by ledge at 11,500ft
Cyclist, who has been in a coma for NINETEEN years, dies as his family offer their forgiveness to the drunk driver, 40, who killed him
You can't keep a good girl down: Read our thrilling extract from the new Girl with the Dragon Tattoo book
Multiple explosions spark huge blaze at American military facility in Japan
One Direction to SPLIT: Band 'to take an extended hiatus of at least a year to focus on solo projects' breaking hearts worldwide
'Does the drama ever end?' One Direction fans left inconsolable as band 'plan an extended hiatus' just months after Zayn Malik's shock departure
Story Of Their Lives: One Direction's stratospheric success story from X Factor hopefuls to global pop phenomenon
Two are injured as helicopter crashes during filming of paranormal reality show
Chilling carefree YouTube posts of two brothers who 'hacked to death their parents and three siblings' and even set up cameras 'to film the attack'
Police foil plot to carry out 'mass shooting' at Pokémon World Championships after idiot gunmen boast of plans on social media
Two high school cheerleaders who 'everyone loved' tragically killed in Pennsylvania car accident less than a week before school is to start
Buffalo Bills cornerback reveals how his father was found murdered, cut into pieces and put in his fridge when he was 10 years old
Wait three minutes to slice freshly-baked scones, serve at 50C and always spread the cream BEFORE the jam: Scientist reveals formula for the perfect cream tea
Agatha Christie and the mystery of 10 lost plays: Theatre producer uncovers new murder-mysteries after being granted access to archives
Looks like the workouts are paying off, Pippa! Kate's fitness fanatic sister shows off washboard stomach in tiny red bikini as brother James throws her off a Caribbean raft while grinning mom Carole looks on
Bizarre moment Foo Fighters TROLLED Westboro Church protestors outside their concert by drowning them out with Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up'
'It's an honor to have been your daughter': Chris Evert pays tribute to her tennis coach dad Jimmy after he dies aged 91
Oil tycoon's wife who lost appeal for more money after being awarded nearly $1 billion in divorce settlement is NOW suing her ex-husband over a company
BBC set for new costume drama based on the real-life family history of a clan whose house is so grand it makes Downton Abbey look cheap
'A big toy collection is a plus': What Casey Anthony prosecutor wrote on his Ashley Madison profile as he tearfully insists - 'While I indulged my curiosity about the site, it never went beyond that'
Hero, whose own sister was paralyzed in a car crash, videos himself chasing down and apprehending 'drugged up driver' swerving all over the road
Armageddon is postponed: Marathon talks between North and South Korea continue past deadline for all-out war
Lebanese Prime Minister threatens to quit as violence erupts in Beirut with 30 security officers left injured after clash with protesters

William Tankard, 31, was driving 10 horses in a trailer when he crashed
The trailer flew off and flipped into an oncoming truck, 3 horses died
Tankard and his dog, sat with him in the truck, were killed instantly
His girlfriend, who is unhurt, was driving behind en route to Pennsylvania
Tributes have flooded in for Tankard, who was a star player of the sport

Published: 19:33 EST, 31 July 2015 | Updated: 23:42 EST, 31 July 2015

View
comments

A star polo player, his dog and three horses have died after their truck was crushed in a three-car pile-up on Ohio's Interstate 76.

William Tankard, 31, was on his way to Pennsylvania for a match on Thursday afternoon when his Ford F-350 truck - pulling a trailer of 10 horses - collided with the side of a car.

The trailer flipped on its side and hurtled into and oncoming semi truck, causing a three-car pile-up. State Patrol says his pick up initiated the chain-reaction crash.

Tankard, the three horses and dog were pronounced dead at the bloody scene over Lake Milton, Ohio. His girlfriend, who was driving in convoy, was not harmed.

Tragic: William Tankard, 31, was on his way to a match on Thursday afternoon when he crashed in Ohio

Devastating: Tankard's girlfriend Samira Waernlund was in the car behind when he was crushed and killed

The couple lived together on a farm in Aiken, South Carolina, where they were both polo enthusiasts

Tributes have been flooding in for Tankard, a celebrated three-goal figure in the sport, and the Friday night match was canceled.

Reality star Kathryn Dennis, of Southern Charm fame, hailed the South Carolina-based sportsman as 'one of the most kind souls that ever existed.'

'Will was a breath of fresh air in a world where people like him rarely exist anymore,' she continued. 'It goes to show that still, no matter who you are or what you have or what you do, at the end of the day, the way you treat people is all that matters.

'Will made everyone feel that they mattered and he will be remembered in the highest regard possible. Thank you, Will.'

Polo columnist Alex Webbe wrote on Facebook: 'The polo community tragically lost one of its own yesterday... Our condolences and prayers go out to his family and many friends.'

Emotional: Tributes have flooded in for Tankard, a star player, and the three horses who were killed

State Patrol said that Tankard's pickup truck started the chain reaction crash with a passenger car and a tractor trailer

Thursday's polo match was cancelled out of respect for Tankard, who had played the game since he was five

Now, vets are focused on nursing the seven surviving horses back to health.

'They have been doing real well. They are a resilient animal. That goes with polo. And these horses are so tough, they just showed that,' Michael Groubert, a local polo enthusiast and farmer who has been dealing with the animals, told WKBN.

Groubert - one of many to volunteer to nurse the horses - added: 'We watched them through the night to make sure nothing was going to happen.'

The match he was travelling to was cancelled after his death.

According to his biography on the United States Polo Association page, he first started playing polo when he was just five.

The Aiken, South Carolina native went to Texas Tech on a polo scholarship and the team won the National Championships in 2006

He recently spent a season playing in Argentina as well.