Santa Clarita Valley, CA (June 17, 2024) – A tragic accident involving a driver and a family with their horses has left one woman hospitalized, a teenage girl injured, and two horses dead.
Accident Details: The incident took place around 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of Iron Canyon and Sand Canyon roads. Marcela De Vivo was attempting to slow down a speeding Nissan sedan as she, her 14-year-old daughter Isabelle Andrew, her daughter’s friends, and six horses were crossing Iron Canyon Road. The speeding vehicle crashed into De Vivo, her daughter Isabelle, and the horses. De Vivo suffered a broken knee, while her daughter’s injuries did not require hospitalization. Tragically, De Vivo’s horse, Norma Jean, died immediately, and Isabelle’s horse, Husband, had to be euthanized due to broken front legs.
Investigation: The Nissan driver remained at the scene, and while De Vivo insists he was speeding, the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
Legal Considerations: As a personal injury attorney, I find that several factors warrant further examination. Determining the driver’s speed at the time of the accident is essential. Witness statements, traffic camera footage, and forensic analysis of the crash site can help establish whether the driver was indeed speeding and if any other traffic violations occurred. The visibility of the crossing horses and the presence of any warning signals or signs in the area must be examined. The lack of adequate warnings for drivers about the presence of horses could implicate the local municipality’s liability. The role of GPS systems in directing traffic through the area should be scrutinized. If navigation apps are routing drivers through residential and equestrian zones to avoid traffic without proper warnings, there may be grounds to address this with the companies responsible for these navigation services. If negligence is found, De Vivo and her daughter may be able to file personal injury claims.
My thoughts go to Marcela De Vivo, Isabelle Andrew, and their loved ones during this difficult time. I wish them a speedy recovery. My sincerest condolences go to them for the loss of their two horses, Norma Jean and Husband.
Source: KTLA