MONTZ - A Louisiana trail riding group is recovering on Monday after a weekend crash killed three of its horses.

Situated Riderz is a trail riding group that keeps many of its horses in a barn in Montz. On Saturday, the group crossed the Sunshine Bridge around 9 p.m. while returning home from a day of riding in Napoleonville.

"I don't see lights or anything behind me, then boom," Situated Riderz Founder Anthony Carter said. "We see one horse about ten feet away, by a car, stuck under a car. The gate of the trailer just flew open."

The St. James Parish Sheriff's Office said its deputies responded to the scene, but Louisiana State Police was in charge of the investigation. The sheriff's office said the crash shut down the eastbound lane for hours.

Carter said two horses were killed on the bridge, and a third horse died several hours later. One horse survived.

Michael Parker, a Situated Riderz member, owned one of the horses that died. He called the crash devastating.

"Once you make a bond with one of these types of animals, it's hard to let go," Parker said.

Situated Riderz said the driver who caused the crash left the scene, running down the eastbound lane of the Sunshine Bridge toward Donaldsonville.

"Next thing you know, we seen somebody running, got out the car and ran, left us with two, three dead horses," Parker said.

Carter said the group is now focusing on recovering.

"Try to keep my brothers, brothers strong. I watched the time, the work we put into this. We came from nothing. We're all we had. We're all we got. Just rebuild, stay strong, come back harder," Carter said.

Louisiana State Police confirmed it is still investigating the crash. Situated Riderz said no arrests have been made and asks that anyone with information on the car or driver to come forward.