Tragic Accident Claims Life of Equestrian in California
A 48-year-old mother of three lost her life, and another horse rider sustained serious injuries when a horse bolted onto a California highway, according to officials.
Monique Morton was riding with family and friends along Highway 371 around 9 PM on Sunday when the accident occurred, as confirmed by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
A car driven by a 70-year-old man struck Morton and both horses, resulting in Morton’s death and serious injuries to another rider.
“The horses were hesitant and didn’t want to cross. When the car came, they ended up in the roadway,” Diane Seeker, a friend of Morton, shared with NBC 4. “Monique was trying to get another rider off the road when she was hit by the vehicle.”
Morton had just gotten back on her horse after dismounting when the incident happened. The injured rider, a 34-year-old from Temecula, was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment of severe injuries.
Anza, the community where the incident took place, is a small equestrian town of about 3,000 people, situated 120 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Morton’s husband, Squeak Smith, mentioned that it was a tragic accident that wasn’t the driver’s fault. He noted that investigators found no evidence of drugs or alcohol being involved, so no arrests were made.
Photos from the scene reveal a damaged vehicle with a shattered windshield. Nick Nekuyforo, who was present to assist at the site, said that one of the horses was suffering and subsequently died from shock.
Friends and family described Morton as a dedicated horse rider. “The community is rocked by this loss. No one really knows how to process it,” said Monica Squires, a close friend. “It’s heartbreaking to see someone so full of life gone so suddenly.”
Another friend, Bek Reider, expressed her sorrow in a Facebook tribute, saying, “I am completely heartbroken. Monique, you were such a beloved friend. Thank you for the wonderful memories over the last 30 years. You will always be in my heart.”
