Collision in which two horses died is still being investigated

Local residents are shocked by the loss of horses Norma Jean and Husband, who were struck and killed by a motorist at the intersection of Sand Canyon and Iron Canyon Road in Canyon Country on Monday night – and it is still unclear whether charges will be filed against the driver.

According to Sergeant Mark Perkins of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Traffic Unit, the accident is currently under investigation to determine whether criminal charges may be filed against the driver of the gray Nissan.

“Once the investigation is complete, we will present the case to the (Los Angeles County) District Attorney’s Office, who will decide whether to file charges,” Perkins wrote in an email to The Signal.

Marcela De Vivo and her 14-year-old daughter Isabelle Andrew are recovering from their injuries after De Vivo’s horse Norma Jean died on impact, while Andrew’s horse Husband had to be euthanized after both of his front legs were severely injured in the collision.

De Vivo said she underwent treatment and surgery for a shattered kneecap, while Andrew suffered a sprained ankle and whiplash.

According to De Vivo, she and a group of six, including Andrew, the daughter of De Vivo’s youth pastor and her boyfriend, and Andrew’s friends from Georgia, began their ride around 7:15 p.m. in an area where De Vivo often hit the trails two to three times a week.

As she led the group across the street, De Vivo noticed the car in the distance approaching quickly. Usually, when De Vivo sees a car from that far away, she says, she has at least two minutes to cross the street.

When she noticed that the driver was not stopping, she went back to the middle of the road and signaled the wagon to stop while the remaining horses crossed the road.

Norma Jean was swept away, her husband was hit, then the car came to a stop. De Vivo was thrown from her horse and suffered an open fracture.

According to De Vivo, because of Andrew’s size, he was not hit by the vehicle but was thrown from his horse.