Two teenagers were hurt and one of their horses killed when they were hit from behind by a car in a Compton neighborhood desperate for a safe place to ride. The incident occurred on Thursday evening as Pedro Vallejo was riding along Alondra Boulevard and Oleander Avenue with four of his friends. They were hit from behind, causing Vallejo, his four-year-old horse Everucho, and one of the other boys to be thrown from their horses.
Vallejo vividly recalled the moment of impact, stating, „I got hit, I just see myself flying up and I see the horse flying away from me, like far away.“ The owner of the horse, Hector Arrendondo, also heard the crash and described the scene, „Me and my friend were just talking and we heard like a boom, a big impact, and we looked back and all I see was my horse flying and the two kids.“
While Vallejo and his friend are expected to recover from the incident, Vallejo expressed deep sadness over the loss of his horse, Everucho. He said, „Really sad. I’m still sad about it, you know. He tried to fight the battle, but they told me the next day that he didn’t make it.“
Community advocates in the area have been pushing for an equestrian center in the city to provide a safe space for horse riders. Hector Gomez Mercado, a Richland Farms resident, emphasized the need for safe trail ways and signage to alert drivers to the presence of equestrians in the community. Despite the area being largely agricultural and home to many horse owners, there is a lack of warning signs for drivers.
„Connecting Compton,“ a program aimed at educating children about ranching and the history of South Los Angeles, has been advocating for an 18-acre equestrian center within Compton city limits. The hope is that such a facility would help keep horses and their riders off the streets and prevent future accidents like the one that occurred.
Daniel Zepeda, also with Connecting Compton, highlighted the disparity in horse-friendly infrastructure between Compton and other communities like Palos Verdes. He pointed out the abundance of caution signs for horses in Palos Verdes compared to the lack of such signage in Compton.
As for the driver involved in the crash, the other horse riders prevented him from fleeing the scene until police arrived. It remains unclear if the driver will face charges for the incident.
The tragic accident in Compton serves as a stark reminder of the need for safer riding conditions for equestrians in the area. The efforts of community advocates and programs like Connecting Compton are crucial in pushing for the establishment of an equestrian center to prevent future accidents and provide a secure space for horse riders in the neighborhood.
