Horse killed, rider injured in hit & run RTA, E. Devon

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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Info from an article in "Midweek Herald" which covers East Devon area: at 12.15 on Monday 29th November a rider & horse involved in a hit & run accident at Sidford. The rider was injured and taken to hospital, but unfortunately the poor horse had to be euthanised at the scene. The driver didn't stop, but apparently the police have now found the car and apprehended the driver at nearby Honiton.

Sorry, don't know any more, it was only a small article. Anyone local know any more?

This is just so awful, but unfortunately all too common.
 
I don't know anything about this, but poor horse and poor rider. Car drivers are getting worse, I'm sure of it. My lad got clipped by a car a few weeks back, I was telling the driver by hand signals and voice to wait as the road was too narrow, but he just kept coming, my horse panics in small spaces, so once he was pinned between the large bank and car, he paniced and the car knocked him. I'm very lucky though as after being a bit lame for a couple of days, he was fine as was I, but I hate riding on the roads and will avoid it wherever possible. HIGH VIZ ALL THE WAY TOO.
 
Terrible! Glad they at least found the driver and he should be subject to more serious penalties for fleeing the scene of a serious accident. Hope the rider at least makes a full recovery.
 
Thanks for the Sidmouth Herald link. As a local rider I think I might write to them (polite letter, but concerned) as they'll often print letters from people, saying basically that this sort of thing is on the increase unfortunately and reminding motorists to please take care, sort of thing.

Gawd help us. I don't expect that (1) the silly old fool driving even saw the horse and (2) even if he did he didn't realise he'd hit anything; and (3) even if he'd hit somethign he didn't realise that he should stop. Sidmouth and East Devon are chuck-a-block with older drivers like this who quite honestly shouldn't be driving. RANT RANT RANT :(

So now we have another poor horse, and a rider who'll be grieving her horse and be traumatised for the rest of her life probably, I know I would be.
 
think a letter to the midweek paper is a good idea. I agree sidmouth is a old folk town and it's awful there. I feel for the rider I really do.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Thanks for the Sidmouth Herald link. As a local rider I think I might write to them (polite letter, but concerned) as they'll often print letters from people, saying basically that this sort of thing is on the increase unfortunately and reminding motorists to please take care, sort of thing.

Gawd help us. I don't expect that (1) the silly old fool driving even saw the horse and (2) even if he did he didn't realise he'd hit anything; and (3) even if he'd hit somethign he didn't realise that he should stop. Sidmouth and East Devon are chuck-a-block with older drivers like this who quite honestly shouldn't be driving. RANT RANT RANT :(

So now we have another poor horse, and a rider who'll be grieving her horse and be traumatised for the rest of her life probably, I know I would be.
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He was driving with a broken windscreen???

I mean if he skelped a horse enough for it to have to be PTS then by god whats he used to hitting that he noticed??

I am in favour of a free driving test for people once they get to free bus pass age as I have been close to being hit or hitting elderly people out driving. they do not see and cannot react quick enough in some instances.

Nikki xxx
 
Must be devastating for the rider to have to cope with her own injuries and then to hear that her horse has had to be PTS - I know personally if I were involved in such an accident on my horse my main concern would be my horse being seen to and if I were conscious i'd probably be screaming like a banshee to get someone to help my horse, doesn't bear thinking about.

Benson ................... thoughts with you, it must be hard to read things like this xx
 
Horrible horrible horrible.

This echos a similar incident in the news a while ago where an elderly driver ran down a horse and rider and kept on going.
Luckily a passing motorist witnessed it and took off after them, and actually had to run them off the road to make them stop - they had no idea they had done anything wrong even though the horse had landed on the roof of the car and caved it in, smashing the windscreen :mad::mad::mad:

We are always hearing of elderly drivers driving onto pavements, up motorways the wrong way etc., for heavens sake there needs to be a stringent asessment, which includes a reactions test, for drivers over 70.
 
Sending every sympathy to the rider and hoping she has a speedy recovery. Thoughts for Benson too.

Digressing a little, but reminds me of an occasion last year when I was towing my trailer up a reasonably steep hill, single track lane. Halfway up the hill, I saw a car coming down the hill. I expected it to give way, as I had right of way 1. because of the trailer and 2. because I was going uphill. But no, the driver stopped in front of me and didn't move. Eventually, I got out and walked (Amazing myself at how polite I'd managed to remain) and went to the window of the other car. Inside was a very elderly gentleman (must have been at least 80) who told me "I'm sorry, but I'm not able to reverse my car any more". He was actually a very sweet old boy, but if he's no longer competent to reverse, then there's no way he should be allowed to drive.
 
My OH and I were behind a car a while back at night. The driver was swerving all over the unlit road - we thought he was drunk. He finally hit a keep left sign and ground to a halt.

We got out to see if he was okay, he wasn't drunk at all - just old. He insisted he was okay and carried on.

We reported him to the police who said there was nothing they could do except get him to pay for the broken road sign!!!

Obviously need to wait for him to kill someone before they can take his licence away - they could not even insist he have a doctor's or optician's appointment.

How crazy is that?
 
So sorry to hear of this, Rip horse run free. Sending my thoughts to the rider and family. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Sadly the roads are becoming more dangerous, either people don't slow down or give you enough room. Some are still very good at passing horses but these are few and far between now:(
I don't have an arena and nor is there much/any off roading riding near me, in order to be off the road completely I would have to box to the quantocks or similar.

I think all drivers should have to do a re-assessment of sorts every 15 years or so and then once they reach a certain age one every 5 years. Not so much a test but a check to make sure you are still competent and a good enough driver for the busy roads we have now.

I come across lots of people who cannot reverse as well not all of them are old.:)
 
what annoys me is that people don't consider that you are not only risking an accident, but the riders life. If they don't agree with horses being on the road fine, its their opinion, but is it worth killing somebody over?

Can't believe they drove away and left this poor woman
 
Old drivers should be tested...in a non horse related accident a old man forgot to shut his wifes door (passenger side) and drove up the road with it open and hit a six year old girl...i witnessed and gave first aid luckly the door hit her in the way which it closed, but she was shaken and bruised badly, he drove off a little way stopped then was just about to drive of but Hubby ran over to him and took his keys.....he had heard a sound but didn't realise nor his wife that door wasn't shut!!!!!:eek: and he had just hit a child.

If she was half a foot shorter it would have hit her head and killed her.
 
RIP HORSE - Run free up in the great meadow.....speedy recovery for the rider too poor thing. :(

I have made this aware on my FB - just to try and reiterate to people the seriousness of horse's on roads and to observe the hand signals given by the rider...it's usually for a reason.

I feel so angry by this as Older people are dangerous and should be made to take another test and not to have high powered cars.....the driver probably won't get anything done...even though the horse has lost it's life.and rider in hospital poor thing recovering and grieving....

Sending all my thoughts to the rider at this time... (((( )))))
 
my-princess-pony said:
Why is it that elderly folk + 70 are allowed to buy supped up mercedes that can be driven at 150 mph without having to pass a medical ?

Please don't anyone question me, because my mums boyfriend +70 has one and scares me to death....
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Although this is very true, a Vauxhall Corsa is hardly the same as a 'supped up mercedes', yet this accident still happened. I think all older drivers, regardless of what car they drive, should have to pass a medical/reactions/driving competency test. My Grandpa still drives but he really shouldn't and he has a Ford Focus! I really wish someone would take his license away because he is a danger to himself and to others. He doesn't realise this though and it's very difficult to do anything about.
 
I think any car is dangerous to a horse and rider, really.

But I do agree oldies should have to take another FREE test if they are going to continue to drive!
 
RIP Horsey.

Trouble with some older drivers is that many would never have taken a test in the first place, they grew up driving in a world that was less busy and moved at a slower pace. I think driving tests shoudl be compulsory (and free) for drivers over 70, at five yearly intervals. Yes it will cost money, but cost less than having unsafe people legally on the road imho :(
 
The driver is my parents neighbour, IMO he is too old to drive. He has always been sweet and a kind man, he knows we have horses and always asked how they were as a child. I don't know why he didn't stop.
The rider was a local girl who rode out racehorses, it was a racehorse that was PTS at the scene.
Not sure about hi-viz use on this occassion. I appeared to have happened on a straight part of the road, quite a busy one at that.
Both my mum and I always hack with Hi-viz, just in case.
Shocking and so close to home :(
 
The letter written at the end of that article is brilliant BTW.

I write as a local horserider in response to the hit & run accident in Sidbury in which a rider was injured and a horse had to be put down, to ask if motorists would please take extra care when passing horses on the roads. Those of us who ride would much rather not have to ride on the public highway, and do so simply because there is no-where else to ride, not out of choice. Please would all motorists take that little extra care when passing horses to pass wide and slow, not to toot their horn or come up too close behind. Cyclists frighten horses because they come up very quickly behind and horses can't hear them, so please for your own safety cylists would you please stop some way back, if you see a horse, and shout so the rider hears you. If you pass horses without announcing your presence, and they are frightened, you are liable to be seriously injured. Joggers also please be aware that you could be injured if you run up behind a horse and frighten them. Riders should make sure they are wearing hi-visibility clothing at all times when riding out, and give clear hand-signals, as well as carrying a mobile. Please, motorists of East Devon, give horses & their riders a little extra care on the roads, this is all we ask so that tragic accidents like this can be avoided. Losing one's horse is like losing a friend; it is tragic and the trauma of it will stay with the unfortunate rider probably for the rest of her life. When you see horses, please pass wide and slow - and remember, we would rather be riding off-road if we could!
 
I think a lot of the reluctance to introduce more stringent standards for older drivers stems largely from a recognition that, for many elderly people (especially those living in rural or semi-rural areas) their vehicle is one of the last links that they have with independent living. Removing an individual's primary mode of transportation does risk leaving them completely isolated and unable to fulfil many of the basic tasks of living. How would someone in their 80's living in a small village with a once-a-day bus service do their weekly shopping, for example? Or visit their GP? It would make a huge number of people dependent on 'someone else' to help them, and that 'someone else' might well have to be a state-funded care worker. I imagine they will be in short supply following the spending cuts.
Also, insurance company figures tend to point towards 'boy racers' as the main risk categories and RTA's caused or involving elderly drivers are less common than we think. Also, a lot of those RTA's tend to happen at a lower speed and so don't often result in death or serious injury (this tragic example obviously being an exception). Whereas RTA's involving younger drivers typically happen because the car is being driven at a speed in excess of what the driver is able to control.
Jo Brand did a programme on it for Tonight or Panorama or something a couple of years ago and presented very compelling arguments both for and against the proposal that older people need to retake their test.

This is a very, very sad article and my thoughts are with the rider, their family and the horse's carers.
 
Um, I wrote the letter above!!! I dunno whether it will get printed, but we shall see. Perhaps another local horsey person will write in. At the mo I'm trying to pressure East Devon District Council and anyone else who will listen about opening up some of the old paths and tracks which we used to ride as kids. Unfortunately these weren't marked as Bridle Paths but they were commonly accepted as rights of way for years before. But kicking @rse is a slow process.
 
Had an ar****** pass me on tuesday, too fast too close stereo booming, and to top it all, ON THEIR BLOODY MOBILE :mad::mad::mad::mad:


I'm sure the driver is crapping themself, probably be something really harsh like a £150.00 fine and 3 points on their licence.
 
My stepmother managed to get my fathers license taken off him when she decided he was just unsafe (and he was) but no idea what she did..

I can fully understand the loss of independance but if you are a serious danger to other road users then you should not have these rights protected at the expense of others.

So thoughts go out to all concerned. This is why I like my yard, I will only see traffic if I choose to ride on the top verges of the downs - although it beats me why a lot of drivers have to treat it like a racetrack and really put their foot down so don't go up there that often.
 
i work with the elderly and am completley for re testing at a certain age.
just the thought of some of the people i look after getting behind a wheel scares me to death.
i actually go to a gentlemen who requires care in his home but still goes driving in his saxo.
i know it takes away some of their independance but that is where the mobility scooters come into play, and members of there family.
there is also the ambulance service and taxi service to get them out and about and to hospital visits, and doctors and nurses also do home visits for people who cant get out for whatever reason
i would rather see them using this form of transport then killing someone or themselves.
unfortunatly old age comes to everyone and some of lifes luxuries but be forfited to keep your life and other peoples going
 
From what I heard the gentleman thought he had hit a tree. Does make you wonder how adequate his vision & concentration levels are.
 
I must add that I am inclined to agree that individuals who are unfit to control a vehicle should not be driving one. Perhaps, though, the DVLA should be moving more towards a 10-yearly 'refresher' exam, where you are assessed on your overall competence and the dodgy habits you have picked up after years of driving are ironed out. This will give assessors the opportunity to quickly pick up who really should not be behind the wheel (irrespective of age). I know a woman in her 40's who is an atrocious driver, can barely see above the steering wheel through her filthy windscreen and refuses to indicate because she knows where she's going and why should she have to tell anyone else? I wouldn't want to be within a hundred yards of this woman when she's driving. Versus my dad who is 65, an ex-racing driver and one of the safest pairs of hands on the road.
It is not necessarily always just the age of the driver that renders them incapable.
 
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