Teen thrown through windscreen when car hits prize horse
Tinks Walker, 17, was thrown through a car windscreen when a vehicle hit her horse Benny on a UK country lane; the prize horse had to be put down at the roadside.
Tinks Walker was riding along a lane in the Cotswolds with her horse Benny when a car rounded a corner at speed and hit both animals without slowing down. Tinks Walker had guided the horses onto a grass verge to try to avoid it.
The impact threw her through the windscreen and she lost consciousness. Benny, a 10-year-old gelding reported to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, was so severely injured he could not stand.
A vet put him down as he lay by the roadside. Walker had been training with Benny to develop a partnership for the British Olympic equestrian team.
Police told her there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the driver but decided instead to send her on a safe-driving course. Walker's family and Benny's owners have begun legal action against the driver.
- 17
- Walker's age
- 10-year-old gelding
- Benny's age
- Hundreds of thousands of dollars
- Benny's reported value
- Cotswolds, UK
- Location
Why it mattersThe case highlights the legal protection gap for equestrians struck by vehicles on roads and raises questions about when sufficient evidence does not lead to prosecution.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect; highlights risks faced by riders and athletes on rural roads globally.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
