Drunk driver allegedly kills horse, injures rider in Contra Costa County

KNIGHTSEN, Calif. – A suspected drunk driver in East Contra Costa County was arrested in a deadly Friday night time crash.

Close to 9:30 p.m. the alleged intoxicated driver struck and killed a horse, and wounded the rider together Delta Road in Knightsen.

“The auto was touring eastbound on Delta road with a rider on the horse in front of him. The vehicle struck the horse which then ejected the rider off onto the shoulder, as properly as killing the horse,” explained Sgt. John Koven with the CHP.

In dwelling surveillance video, the horse and rider are just off-digital camera to the right, with two cars and trucks headed toward them. Brake lights illuminate, and a pair of seconds later the affect is read as a motor vehicle headed in the reverse way hits the horse and rider.

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“The rider of the horse has significant accidents,” reported Battalion Chief Craig Auzenne with East Contra Costa County Fireplace Safety District.

Because of to length, the unknown rider was taken to John Muir Health care Centre by helicopter relatively than by ambulance.

Even with the hefty harm sustained to the correct entrance of the vehicle, the unidentified driver managed to wander absent, but in handcuffs, after staying arrested for suspicion of DUI.

The CHP reported it’s mysterious at this time no matter if their investigation will also demand a toxicology test from the horseback rider.

“We have experienced quite a few incidences with horses and vehicles out below,” said Auzenne. “This is a country highway, they are slender. It’s darkish in this article at night,” 

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Knighten resident Davie Bushong stated the last horse and vehicle crash he recalled took place about two many years in the past, on Delta Highway, subsequent door.  He explained he wasn’t stunned to see it materialize again Friday evening, correct throughout the avenue.

Bushong said many people today travel too speedy and that he routinely finds plenty of proof of ingesting.

“We check out to preserve the street front as clean as we can, but I’m usually discovering beer bottles, vodka bottles, whiskey bottles, up and down the full avenue,” claimed Bushong.

Numerous roads in the spot are slim with small to no shoulder, and with no streetlights, motorists have only their headlights to rely on.

Bushong gave the exact suggestions cited by first-responders.

“If you are going to be out soon after dark with an animal, some sort of reflective, anything, light, one thing to give most people the advantage of the doubt to try out to see you before something like this transpires.”