COROLLA, N.C.
A Corolla wild horse stallion had to be euthanized after he collided with the vehicle of a Currituck County deputy on patrol late Monday night.
One stallion was chasing another stallion when the collision occurred about 10:30 p.m. on the beach of the four-wheel-drive area of the Currituck Outer Banks, said Karen McCalpin, executive director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Both horses were dark-colored and hard to see, she said. The vehicle computer showed the deputy traveling only about 28 miles per hour.
The horse suffered a broken front leg and other injuries and had to be euthanized by officials from the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.
“This was clearly an accident,” McCalpin said.
The stallion was 3 years old, she said.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol conducted the investigation, according to a release.
This is the third stallion struck by a vehicle this year. In March, a stallion was struck and left to die on the beach. Tips to the Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of a Virginia woman. She was ordered to pay a $500 fine. Another stallion was euthanized in May after being hit by a vehicle. No one has been arrested in that case, McCalpin said.
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"ACCIDENT"
It is called an "accident" not an "on purpose". Not in the too distant past, my husband was driving down 168 and as he was traveling at or around the speed limit a large deer bolted across the road and ran right into the SIDE of his vehicle leaving a large dent. After the collision, the deer continued across the road and into the field. The bill to fix the damage was over $1500. A couple of years ago, at around 10:30 at night...moon shining brightly, my son was traveling down a back road when a horse bolted across the road in front of him. There was over a thirty foot skid mark trying to avoid the horse but unfortunately that did not happen. My son's car was totaled. Although their nerves were a bit shaken, my husband and son came away without a scratch. I agree that it is sad and unfortunate that the horse was put to sleep due to the injuries sustained from this ACCIDENT, but my concern is more with the officer that was involved...are they alright...did they suffer any injuries. Where is our compassion for the human aspect of this story.
okay, first off, speed limit
okay, first off, speed limit IS 35 mph UNLESS you are within 300 ft of PEOPLE!! second, it IS VERY DARK on that beach no matter if the moon is full or not!! third, those stallions come FLYING OVER THE DUNES & even during the day time, it is unbelievable how fast they run.. i have PERSONALLY clocked them at 38 mph!! if the deputy was doing 28, he was well within the speed limit... at least he didnt just leave him there to suffer, like some have done... they DO care a great deal for these horses as do MOST of us in this area...
and if all would READ the SIGNS, this is a VEHICULAR BEACH, NOT a PEDISTRAN BEACH!!! the beach in the 4 wheel drive area is an extention of highway 12!! and it blows my mind that people will allow their children to litterally *play in the middle of a road*!!!
it has only been recently that we have lost our beautiful horses to accidents with cars... i've been up here for YEARS and is usually the visitors who get out of hand when it comes to them... the deputy was doing his job and had an accident, like i said, at least he notified someone and didnt make him suffer... would you have done that for a deer or any other animal??
and who in their right mind wou
38mph
If Corolla ponies can run that fast, maybe they need to be in the Kentucky Derby. The horse that won that race was clocked at his fastest doing 32. Get real.
"This is the third stallion killed by a vehicle this year."
Very sad. Encroaching development, beach closures to the South redirecting visitors north and, even worse in the future, the Mid-Currituck Bridge will continue to threaten these horses range and behaviors. Some common sense is needed, rather than politicizing these events. Let's all make it a priority to tread lightly and carefully through this range. Those with the most experience do so naturally throughout the Northern Beaches and on Hatteras. If you are going to visit this area, factor in the dangers of an encounter with the horses, the same way you would with a deer on the interstate.
And, please, Pilot, for the sake of accuracy, the (your quote) subject line is incorrect. This is the third horse that (sadly) died (was not killed) as a result of an accident, either on the spot or via humane means by the CWHF. Killing involves premeditation or a deliberate willful act, which is not the case in any.
well stated
I agree with you HatterasNC.....people need to remember that these horses are down there and we all need to stop pointing fingers at the Sheriff. Alot of times people jump on the wagon to hammer an officer or think that someone is covering something up. If the officer was speeding he will be punished for it much more so than a citizen would. Also, the damage to the vehicle is on THE SIDE now if the officer hit the horse rather than the horse running into the vehicle then the damage would be to the front of the vehicle! The tide and the portion of the beach he was on will play a factor as to where he was driving. From what I understand is that the horses ran out from the dunes and the horse ran right into the Sheriff's vehicle. Very possible especially if he was driving up close to the dunes as they do in some places in Corolla. Also, the speed limit IS 35mph.
Down there this weekend
I was down there this weekend and saw two speed limit signs that both said 15 mph. I got pulled over by a cop on an ATV this summer and issued a warning ticket for traveling 30mph on the beach. I wasn't within 300yard of any pedestrians either. (Thats the excuse the officer game me for pulling me over, that and I was speeding.)
Too bad for the horses, but when that lady hit the horse earlier this year she was thrown under the bus as a horse killer. Now a man in uniform does virtually the same thing and it's an accident. Something is just not right about that. Good ol boy vs. 757 Tourist.
Anyways, I love it down there, and hope these incidents don't lead to some overeaction by a animal rights groups to close down the beach like what happened in Dare County.
Information off of the fire dept website
Below you will see the speed limits on the beach! This is right off of the fire depts. website. You are NOT going to be pulled over down there unless you are infact doing something wrong. The people down there are wonderful people and ONLY care for the safety of the visitors and to make sure they enjoy themselves. Get off of your high horse and educate yourself on the laws down there before you make such comments! See below as a starter to your education.
The speed limit on the beach is
35 mph. On the shore or beach
strand, the speed limit is 15 mph
when traveling within 300 feet
of any person or animal.
Im not necessarily a fan of
Im not necessarily a fan of the sheriffs down at the beach, but I dont think they would hit a horse intentionally. And the difference between the younger lady who hit the horse this summer and this incident is that the sheriff obviously reported the accident, Miss James did not. The wild horse lady even said she understood it was an accident, but she left the horse there to die because she call the accident in... thats why she got "thrown under the bus"...
????
I would not be afraid to bet my life that she left the horse there because she had been drinking as do most that go down there!
It was the nite after the full moon
Come on you could see a long ways outside last nite, with the full moon reflecting off the sand. I belive someone is covering up something.
The horse was dark on a almost full moon on white sand, out in the wide open beach. Now this sound very fishy to me, I think this needs to be looked into more.Did the officer hit the first horse or second horse?
I live in Currituck just across the sound. I was outside last nite late and I could see along ways across my pasture and see my horses. No white sand there.
Can't see?
"The vehicle computer showed the deputy traveling only about 28 miles per hour."
ONLY 28 mph? If I was hit with a vehicle going that fast, it would be possibly fatal.
The lady who is passing judgment wasn't even there. It's her opinion. Pure spin.
Wonder what the police have to say about the incident. We don't know yet, do we?
If your going above the speed limit and can't see, what does that say about your safety?
The lady
that hit the other horse admitted to hitting the horse. I have been out on that beach plenty of times and if you have common sence you would know that even at 30MPH and the speed that these stallions run in they can and have before ran into vehicles. The damage was done to the side of the vehicle unlike if the Sheriff had hit the horse the damage would of been to the front of the vehicle unless of course the police now have vehicles that ride sideways! Get your facts before you comment! I've called down there to check to see if they needed assistance and got the story. Maybe you should do the same before you point fingers. Everyone on the OBX loves these horses and would NEVER do anything on purpose to harm them!
Speed Limit
The officer was indeed speeding. The speed limit on the beach is posted at 25mph.
Hey OJ- actually no, the
Hey OJ- actually no, the speed limit is 35 mph... Check out the Carova Beach fire dept. website for more info. Click on the visitors section...
Hmmmmmm
If the deputy was "only" 28mph, then how did the horse run into him? I could see the horse running into the car if the car was parked and sitting still or maybe crawling at 5mph.I think someone is covering their behind.Who is to say the lady who hit the last horse wasn't going but 25-30 mph and the horse ran into her?????
That would be the woman who
That would be the woman who didn't report the accident and left the horse to die in pain alone on the beach? Oh, yes....I certainly see the similarities!
what if it had been a child?
give me a break...some people will go to any lengths to lay blame especially when law enforcement is involved. I guess if it was child then the parents would be too blame or heaven forbid the child would be depending on their age. Or does that not fit your agenda? Obviously since law enforcement was involved there is some kind of cover up, right?
Im so glad I moved...same amount of idiots just more land between me and them.
Speed
28 MPH is nothing on that beach. There are not any kid out on that part of the beach at 10:30 at night not even in the summer months. These Sheriff's do a great job down there looking after these horses. They love everyone of them as if they were their own. I don't know if you have ever been out there in the middle of the night like that but it's VERY dark and these horses can run fast. It appears that the horse ran into the vehicle which can happen when they run out from a dune. I don't think that anyone needs to blame the Sheriff for it. They truly care about that area and the horses. I've seen these guys in action down there and I can be the first to say that they are very careful when driving on the beach and on the back roads.
Not deputys fault
Why are you criticizing the deputy? He was doing well below the speed limit, and the article plainly says the horse ran into his vehicle while chasing another horse. No different than a deer jumping out of the woods and hitting your car.
speed limit
the speed limit on the beach is 35mph i do think the officer should have used better judgment at night. what if that would have been a child.