Tragedy at Dawn: Francisco, Beloved Stallion, Killed in Collision
By ObxLedger
Published Aug 14, 2025
2 min read
In recent years, Corolla’s wild horse herd has lost an average of five to seven animals annually. While most of these deaths stem from natural causes, vehicle strikes remain one of the most preventable threats—claiming multiple lives over the years, including a five-year-old stallion named Alexander, killed in a DWI-related crash this summer.
Francisco’s Final Morning
At approximately 5 a.m. on Monday, August 11, a driver called 911 to report striking a horse on Sandpiper Road in Corolla’s 4×4 area. The details of the collision remain under the jurisdiction of the sheriff’s department.
The victim was Francisco, a healthy 10-year-old stallion well-known to locals and wild horse enthusiasts. He led a harem of four mares and looked after two young colts—a yearling and a four-month-old—though DNA testing has yet to confirm whether he was their sire.
A veterinarian’s necropsy revealed catastrophic injuries: complete fractures of the radius and ulna, a ruptured eye with surrounding bone fractures, broken ribs causing subcutaneous emphysema, and a likely ruptured diaphragm leading to pneumoperitoneum.
Despite the loss of their leader, Francisco’s harem has been observed behaving normally, and there is no immediate concern for their safety.
A Herd at Risk
The Corolla wild horses—descendants of Colonial Spanish Mustangs—now number only around 100 on the Outer Banks, far below the scientifically recommended sustainable population of 120–130. In a herd this small, the loss of even a single individual is a significant blow to its genetic health and long-term survival.
Over the last two decades, the horses have faced mounting threats, from habitat loss to avoidable collisions. Between 1985 and 1996 alone, at least 20 horses were killed by vehicles on or near NC-12.
This summer, the herd suffered another devastating loss when Alexander, a five-year-old stallion, was struck and killed by a drunk driver on the beach at night. He was the last of his maternal bloodline, making his death an irreplaceable genetic loss.
Preventable. Heartbreaking. Action Needed.
While conservation programs like immunocontraception help manage the herd humanely, the single most effective way to prevent tragedies like Francisco’s and Alexander’s is through human behavior.
Wildlife managers urge every driver in the 4×4 area to:
Watch your speed, especially during low-light hours.
Yield to horses of all sizes—they can move unpredictably.
Maintain a safe distance, whether in a vehicle or on foot.
Never feed or approach them—for your safety and theirs.
Francisco’s death is a painful reminder: in a herd as small as Corolla’s, every life matters. To keep these iconic “Bankers” roaming freely for generations to come, we must drive with care, respect the rules, and remain vigilant on their shared home—the beach.
