Eventer Tinks Walker's horse killed in collision as family criticises police

Teenage eventer Tinks Walker has described how her horse, Benny, was killed in a collision with a car on a quiet road near her home in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, during a morning ride. In an interview with GB News, she said she was riding the horse she had inherited from double Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett when a car came quickly round a bend. Walker said she moved onto the verge, saw the driver pull down a sun visor, and was then struck. She was thrown into the vehicle's windscreen. Benny was severely injured and was put down at the roadside. Walker said she fears the accident could cost her selection for the eventing European Championship for young riders next year.

Her mother, Vanesha, told GB News that the family had complained about Wiltshire Police's handling of the case. She said Tinks received a text message from an officer within hours of the collision, while she was in hospital. The message said the driver had given a plausible account and that the investigation was unlikely to go further. Vanesha said the message was sent to a minor without consulting her or Tinks's father. The family also said the driver was not breathalysed and her phone was not checked.

Wiltshire Police said the driver was reported for careless driving after the collision on Thursday 2 April. The force said that if the driver was ordered to complete a safe and considerate driving course, it would be inappropriate to comment further because of a formal complaint. GB News reported that the family said police had written after six months to say there was evidence to prosecute but no charges would be brought. The family said the driver would be offered a driver awareness course.

Alan Hiscox, the British Horse Society's director of safety, told GB News that nearly 60 horses are killed on roads each year. He set out the society's Dead Slow campaign. Drivers should slow to a maximum of 10mph, be patient, avoid sounding the horn or revving the engine, pass wide and slow with at least two metres' distance, and drive slowly away. He said the Highway Code was changed four and a half years ago to protect vulnerable road users, but only about 8% of drivers know the rules.