Dyersburg State Gazette: Local News: Four men injured in traffic accident involving animals

A group of men riding horses and a mule on a dark rural highway were involved in an automobile accident on Saturday, July 18, near Tigrett.

A motorist hit one of the horses, then the mule. The car ran off the right side of Old Highway 20, crossed a soybean field and came to rest in a deep ditch that ran east to west.

Tennessee State Trooper Brian Pulley still hasn't had a chance to talk to all of the men involved in the accident, but he released some of the details Friday afternoon.

Pulley said the horses and their riders apparently were on the roadway shoulder until they reached a deep ditch. Emmit Smith, 45, of Friendship, directed his mule onto the roadway and crossed the ditch. Jeremy Hughs, 31, of Alamo, was doing the same on his horse. Chad Smith, 32, of Friendship, and Ronnie Robertson of Friendship were following behind and hadn't reached the ditch yet.

Just as Hughs was crossing the ditch, a 1991 Buick reached the same point. The car collided with Hughs' horse and then Smith's mule.

The wreck was originally reported as a hit and run, but Tigrett firefighter Jeff Beaver noticed a trail through the soybean field. He followed it and found the car. The trooper said the top had been torn back when the mule slid across the hood and onto the roof.

The men inside -- driver Anthony Adams, 33, of Tigrett, and his passenger, Rodney Vaughn, 40, of Tigrett -- were airlifted to The Regional Medical Center in Memphis, where they remained Friday evening.

Hughs and Smith were both taken to the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and have since been released. Their animals died.

Pulley said he is still investigating the wreck and anticipates issuing charges.

While some people have speculated about the advisability of riding horses on rural highways in the dark without reflectors, Pulley said he hasn't found anything in the Tennessee Code Annotated that prohibits it.

its the same thing as if the amimals was just loose and on roadway?

-- Posted by jscott on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 5:39 AM

How do you stop accidents like this when streets and roads are open to all kinds of traffic? Does the state legislature have to pass a law prohibiting horses and pedestrians at night or in periods of reduced visibility unless they use reflectors, lights, and turn signals? I hope not.

-- Posted by A Citizen on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 5:52 AM

I'm not worried about the rules,I'm worried about the intelligents of the men riding horses and a mule at night knowing that they can't be seen.I would have more concern over the safety of my animals than that.

-- Posted by mamagizmo on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 7:58 AM

This is just sad very sad. It's very dangerious to drive at night on county roads, for people have night blindness,plus speeding habits.

-- Posted by chief_ty20 on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 10:08 AM

Well i know the people very well that were on the horses and mule.. it was not there fault the guys in the car were doing over a 100...is what a police officer told us... this was not intentional...the guys were off the side of the road and were not in the road... the car went off the road! but what ever anyone wants to say or think..at least they are all okay...poor horse tho and mule...:(

-- Posted by pitanchickfarm on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 10:37 AM

YEAH RIGHT....I never seen a country road u can do 100mph....A real country road is full of twist and turns....If they were on a straight way. They probably would have seen them, and besides, who rides a horse and mule and night.....

-- Posted by DMASE on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 2:46 PM

i bet they wished they had one of them bicycle blinkers up those horses but that night. or some reflectors. live and learn.

-- Posted by YA DONT SAY on Sun, Jul 26, 2009, at 1:41 PM

THE GUYS SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN RIDIN AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHT OR REFLECTORS, IT IS VERY VERY DARK IN THAT AREA

-- Posted by lildude26649 on Sun, Jul 26, 2009, at 11:27 PM

COME ON PITANCHICKFARM U KNOW THE AREA AS WELL AS I DO NO WAY THE DRIVER WAS GOIN THAT FAST, BESIDES THAT 91 OLDS PROBALY WONT GO THAT FAST.. AN I ALSO KNOW THE GUYS ON HORSES AN THE GUY DRIVIN THE CAR , THE POINT IS THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD LIGHTS,BESIDES UR PROBALY A CUNTRY HICK THAT DONT LIK BLACK GUYS , THE GUYS ON HORSES WERE , PROBLY DRINKIN IM SURE, HELL EVERYONE IN TIGRETT AN FRIENDSHIP DRINK AN DRIVE , JUST MOST ARE ALL FARMERS AN RICH , SO THE LAW DONT BOTHER THEWM , BESIDE MONEY IS WHAT CONTROLLS DYERSBURG, SO THAT HOLT AN HIS BUDIES CAN BUY THEMSELVES COC AN DRUGS..

-- Posted by lildude26649 on Sun, Jul 26, 2009, at 11:33 PM

It is amazing what some people will stoop to on here.

I know of the incident being discussed, and the people involved also. The driver of the car was speeding-around 90(on the report). The people riding were not breaking the law with the animals crossing the highway. It is a main highway, but it is also considered country. There was neglect on both parts.

It is sad that some people have to degrade others as if they have never messed up before or made a foolish decision. Fortunately, there were no lives lost other than the animals. That was bad enough.

There is not a law against it, but true is doesn't mean you should do it. It is done, and it cannot be taken back or fixed.

Also, not all in Friendship and Tigrett are drinking folks. This is exactly how many people are ignorant. They want to lump all into one category, instead of dealing with facts. Everyone has an opinion, as we can tell on here. That doesn't necessarily mean it is correct with proof.

Have a good day.

-- Posted by tnclerk36 on Mon, Jul 27, 2009, at 9:28 AM

tnclerk36--I agree with you..very well written...

-- Posted by donnatn40 on Tue, Jul 28, 2009, at 1:03 PM

By the time Obama is finished we'll all be riding horses, because gas will be so high and everybody will out of work...

-- Posted by terminator on Fri, Jul 31, 2009, at 9:16 PM

hell the drivers the only one hurt , messed up pretty bad and also has no car now..he has lost enough from the accident

-- Posted by lildude26649 on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 11:33 PM