1 child killed, 2 injured when car crashes into horseback riders in Dallas County
A 14-year-old was killed when a vehicle crashed into a group of riders on stolen horses in southern Dallas County early Tuesday, officials said.
Two other teens were injured in the accident, which happened along Great Trinity Forest Way near Interstate 45 about 5:30 a.m., Dallas police said in a news release.
The 14-year-old rider, whose name has not been released, died at the scene. The two other riders, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, were taken to a local hospital and remained in stable condition Tuesday afternoon.
Three horses were involved in the accident. Police said their preliminary investigation indicates the horses were stolen.
One of the horses was killed in the crash and another was euthanized at the scene by a veterinarian. The third horse was injured, but is expected to live.
Police initially thought the car that hit them fled, but investigators later determined the driver stayed at the scene. No charges are expected for the driver.
The horses were taken from Memory Lane Stable and Track, according to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV. Owner Lorenza Gooch identified the horses who died as Belle Wind Up, 2, and Waco Sassy Kid, 3.
“I’m heartbroken,” Gooch said. “I’m speechless. I don’t know. It hasn’t really set in yet.”
Gooch told WFAA that the third horse, Logo Winner, was traumatized by the experience. She was trained to pull buggies and had never been ridden before. Logo Winner lost her back shoes and suffered cuts and sores.
Gooch said that the teens brought their own saddles and rode several miles before the accident, WFAA reported.
There have been 10 horse thefts in the area in recent weeks, including the three horses stolen from Gooch’s stables, according to WFAA. All of the horses but one have been recovered dead or alive.
It’s not clear whether the teens were involved in the other thefts.
The 17-year-old injured in the accident is on probation with an ankle monitor, Dallas police told WFAA. The teen’s identity hasn’t been made public because of his age, but WFAA reported that the teen recently posted something on social media to defend himself from accusations that he had been stealing horses.
This story was originally published March 14, 2023 at 8:51 AM.
