Community Corner

A Woman, Her Horse And A Tragic Ending

Clinton veterinarian seeks tougher penalties for distracted drivers after the death of her horse.

For Lynda Perry, the summer has been a nightmare.

Not only was she injured after being hit by a vehicle while out riding, but her beloved horse, Trapper Jake Mint, whose leg was amputated due to the impact of the vehicle, had to be tranquilized and shot four times before his suffering mercifully ended.

“I am devastated by his loss,” said Perry of her 15-year old Lippitt Morgan horse.

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Perry, a veterinarian with Petshield in North Branford, was out riding her horse in the late afternoon in July on Olde Orchard Road in Clinton near her home.

“I heard a vehicle approaching at approximately 6:50 pm,” said Perry. “I turned to my left to acknowledge the vehicle with my usual friendly wave.  As I turned, I saw the speeding Dodge Durango approach and swerve toward me.  I screamed 'Oh my God, you're going to hit me!' as the vehicle struck both Trapper and I.”

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Perry said her first thought was that the driver intentionally struck her and her horse.

“It was obvious to me that the driver was speeding and out of control,” she stated.

Perry and Trapper were hit by Robert Lee, 17, of Clinton, the son of Corporal Craig Lee of the Clinton Police Department.

Robert Lee, who was alone in the car, said he was temporarily blinded by the sun.

He stated in the Clinton Police report that “as he turned westbound on Olde Orchard Road north of Diamond Road, the setting sun obscured his vision. He pulled the visor down to block the sun when he realized that he had struck what he thought to be a garbage can or mailbox.”

First on the scene was his father, Corporal Lee, followed by Corporal Scott Jakober, who took over the investigation.

The injuries to Perry began with her being impaled by a branch as she was flung into the woods. She suffered multiple abrasions and contusions and bruising from head to toe.

For Trapper, his injuries were “horrific” said Perry.  His left front leg was amputated at the fetlock joint by the vehicle.  He was bleeding profusely, went into shock and was not able to be euthanized until more than one and one-half hours had passed since he had been hit.

Perry is upset about many things, mainly the loss of her sweet horse who loved kids.

“Trapper was one of the first horses on the Connecticut Horse Council's Volunteer Horse Patrol,” said Perry. “We received awards every year since the Horse Patrol's inception for exceptional service.”

In a statement, the Connecticut Horse Council said "Lynda and Trapper worked as a great team to greet visitors to the parks and forestlands they patrolled. Trapper was always willing to stop to greet visitors and allow adults and children pet him. He was a fine example of a patrol horse."

Her heart tells her that the driver was distracted and speeding, but there is no way to prove it.

Perry also feels that the penalty for this accident, a verbal warning to the driver, is not commensurate with the death of her animal.

“Is this the message we want to give to other drivers?” asked Perry. “That hitting someone while driving is just an accident and please don't do it again?”

According to Major John Santry of the Clinton Police Department, Robert Lee was determined to be at fault for the collision for violation of Connecticut General Statute 14-293b. Briefly, it says that the operator of a vehicle, when approaching a person riding a horse on a public road, should include the obligation to reduce speed appropriately or to stop, if necessary, to avoid endangering the equestrian or frightening or striking the horse.

He received a verbal warning.

Santry said that in 70 percent of the motor vehicles incidents in town, a verbal warning is given the driver. Twenty percent receive a citation that carries a fine and 10 percent are serious matters such as DUIs that result in an arrest.

Perry feels that she and the horse were clearly visible to any approaching driver.

“I was wearing a fluorescent lime green shirt and had a blaze orange poncho over Trapper's rump” she stated.

Perry also stated that the police “will not look into (Lee’s) texting or using his cell phone because I did not see the driver doing either of them.” 

“We all agree this is a terrible tragedy,” said Santry.

She is also asking the public’s support of legislation that will “Create Penalties For Causing Harm to, or the Death of, a Vulnerable User of a Public Way” which will be reintroduced to the Connecticut legislature at the start of the new session. For more information on the bill, click here: http://cthorsecouncil.org/resources/LegislationFiles/VulnerableUserFactSheet.pdf.

In a statement, the Connecticut Horse Council said they will continue to press for the passage of the Vulnerable User Law which would provide penalties for causing harm to, or death of, a vulnerable user of a public way. Additionally the council will continue their existing ROADSAFE program to focus on public awareness of all users of the roads.

Santry agreed that public awareness of safety is always a positive thing.

“We live in a rural community with roads with no sidewalks,” said Santry.

He said we need to share the road with everyone – pedestrians, people on horses, people walking their dogs, little kids heading to the bus stop.

Perry feels as if anything positive is to come of Trapper’s suffering and death, it is public awareness.

Slow down, be aware of your surroundings, and don't text while driving, she said.


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