Five people have been hospitalised and four horses killed after a 4WD towing a float crashed in Tasmania on the group’s journey home from a race meeting.

The car veered off a highway and into a tree stump at Rowella in the state’s north around 1.45am on Monday.

An 18-year-old who was sitting in the back seat was seriously injured and is being taken to Melbourne, while a 17-year-old is being transported to Royal Hobart Hospital.

The car’s 20-year-old female driver likely suffered fractures and along with two passengers was taken to Launceston General Hospital.

Tasmania Police Inspector Ruth Orr said it appeared the group, which ranged in age from 14 to 20, were returning to Rowella after a race meeting in Hobart.

“It appears probably fatigue would have been involved. They were not far from home,” she told reporters.

Yoles Harness Racing Stables confirmed some of their team had been involved in a serious car accident.

“We have had a lot of people reaching out offering support,” a post by the stable’s Facebook page read.

“We would just like to thank you and ask that at this time we all have some space to navigate our way through.”

Four horses were being transported in the float. Two died in the crash and two were euthanised.

“It is distressing for people to see animals that are injured and suffering. The owner of the horses also attended the scene,” Insp Orr said.

An automatic crash alert from one of the occupant’s mobile phones informed emergency services about the crash.

Insp Orr said police were able to respond within ten minutes because they were in the area on another matter.

Investigations into the crash are ongoing and anyone with information has been asked to come forward.

– AAP