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Car Accident in Wellington

Hunter/Jumper
#61

[QUOTE=allpurpose;8470173]
I wonder if they meant the competition flags, of which there are many at that venue? Those can be flown at half-staff.[/QUOTE]

If you click on the link to the article posted above (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/one-dead-one-hanging-on-in-wellington-polo-club-wr/npxD3/#8550049), there is clearly a photo in there of the American flag at half staff with the description, “The flag flies at half-staff over Global Dressage Stadium in Wellington, Florida on January 4, 2016. Sophie Walker of Wellington died at the scene of a car crash in The Polo Club early Monday morning.”

#62

They lowered the flag for a drunk driver? :no: Sorry and all, but just no.

#63

[QUOTE=TheJenners;8470238]
They lowered the flag for a drunk driver? :no: Sorry and all, but just no.[/QUOTE]

Maybe it was lowered on Sophie’s behalf- she was not driving.

Either way, it’s a loss to their families, their spouses, their friends and the horse community. I hope they rest in peace.

#64

I was horse showing in Pennsylvania in 1999 when a teenage girl was killed due to a fall in the jumper ring while I sat there and watched her do the course. The next morning we had a respectful announcement on the speaker system and a few minutes of silence.

No flags were lowered.

#65

Nothing wrong with the legality of the flag at half-staff. Also in the Flag Code:

“The provisions of the Flag Code on flying the flag at half-staff are, like all the Code’s provisions, a guide only. They do not apply, as a matter of law, to the display of the flag at half-staff by private individuals and organizations. No federal restrictions or court decisions are known that limit such an individual’s lowering his own flag.”

While you might be reviled by such a show of respect for a drunk driver (assuming that to be proven by toxicology tests) remember that he was not alone in that car and that another person deserves the honor if, arguably, the driver does not.

#66

Two horse people lost their lives, and there is extensive discussion here about the flag at half mast? Really?

Condolences to their families and friends, who must be devastated at their loss.

#67

^ this. Many, many times over. Prayers for those who lost friends and family in this accident. Sad, indeed.

#68

Certainly, the depth of personal loss felt in situations such as these does not cancel the irresponsibility of the behavior that caused it. Likewise, though, a loss is a loss; the grief of the loss is not mitigated by of the circumstances surrounding the death or a deceased person’s responsibility for it. Perhaps, for those who feel it most personally and painfully, the needlessness of the event actually amplifies the loss.

If you fly an American flag on your private property, do as you like with it. As others have rightly shown, this is US Flag Code. There’s a reason why the flag at my public, midwestern high school won’t be lowered. I can certainly understand, however, the very real mourning that has led those who run the venue to lower theirs.

#69

My thoughts and prayers are with those friends and family members who are left behind, and whose lives were forever changed the instant the crash occurred.

As the police stated, they believe alcohol played a part. As this news link reports
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2016/01/05/world-class-equestrian-rider-andres-rodriguez-killed-in-florida-car-crash/
“Sheriff’s Office deputies are still investigating the crash, but Rodríguez had been cited in Palm Beach County for speeding a number of times though all the citations had been dismissed.”

The point being that someone at that birthday party, where the victims had been, had to have known of the extreme risk he was taking to drive home, with or without a passenger.

If only someone had taken his keys.

Again my heartfelt sympathies for those who have had a future shattered and now have to pick up the pieces. :frowning:

#70

[QUOTE=MHM;8470327]
Two horse people lost their lives, and there is extensive discussion here about the flag at half mast? Really?

Condolences to their families and friends, who must be devastated at their loss.[/QUOTE]

I think you mean half-staff. No one is sailing a ship. And yes, some of us do care about when the flag is flown at half-staff because it is an honor historically reserved for certain people and certain occasions. This is undoubtedly a tragic situation but it is not one that merits the lowering of the American flag. But WEP can do what they want, it is their property, but it does seem distasteful to many people.

#71

I have to say that I never cease to be amazed at the cruelty of human beings to other human beings that have not lived up the “perfect” standards that we would all like to strive for on a daily basis. It saddens me that people are coming on this board degrading the deceased without regard for their families, friends or fans.

None of us are perfect and while I get that there are “some” of you out there that would NEVER do anything wrong like this; you make me want to vomit.

Some of your comments are hateful and vile and my hope for you is that crawl back into your hatred filled hole and leave these people alone. They paid with their lives. Is that not enough?

#72

What a terrible loss for their families and loved ones. And I think it is in very poor taste to be criticizing the deceased and blaming them, save it for another time if you must.

#73

[QUOTE=supernatural;8470669]
I have to say that I never cease to be amazed at the cruelty of human beings to other human beings that have not lived up the “perfect” standards that we would all like to strive for on a daily basis. It saddens me that people are coming on this board degrading the deceased without regard for their families, friends or fans.

None of us are perfect and while I get that there are “some” of you out there that would NEVER do anything wrong like this; you make me want to vomit.

Some of your comments are hateful and vile and my hope for you is that crawl back into your hatred filled hole and leave these people alone. They paid with their lives. Is that not enough?[/QUOTE]

What makes me want to vomit is someone taking another person’s life due to drunk driving. I don’t drink and drive period. I won’t get in a car with a drunk driver, as your sig line says “just stupid people” drinking and driving is stupid, plain and simple. If you kill just yourself then everyone got lucky, when you take out innocent people you deserve zero sympathy. I’ll crawl back into my hatred filled hole now.

#74

[QUOTE=BAC;8470709]
What a terrible loss for their families and loved ones. And I think it is in very poor taste to be criticizing the deceased and blaming them, save it for another time if you must.[/QUOTE]

This.

#75

[QUOTE=Brookes;8470714]
What makes me want to vomit is someone taking another person’s life due to drunk driving. I don’t drink and drive period. I won’t get in a car with a drunk driver, as your sig line says “just stupid people” drinking and driving is stupid, plain and simple. If you kill just yourself then everyone got lucky, when you take out innocent people you deserve zero sympathy. I’ll crawl back into my hatred filled hole now.[/QUOTE]

Here’s hoping you can always live in the Merry old land of Oz. Hopefully, your children, children’s children, parents, cousins, never make any mistakes and you can live out your perfect life and condemn everyone else. Bottom line is it ain’t all about you; or me for that matter.

[edit]

#76

yes, he may have been a very accomplished rider and a nice person, but some comments are trying to make him sound like a saint… he was not obviously…

I feel terrible for Sophie’s husband really…

#77

[QUOTE=supernatural;8470669]
None of us are perfect and while I get that there are “some” of you out there that would NEVER do anything wrong like this; you make me want to vomit.[/QUOTE]

I think there is a HUGE difference between not being perfect and making mistakes, and getting behind the wheel of a car when you’re drunk. There are many, many people out here in the world who truly do not ever drink and drive and still don’t believe they’re perfect. Drunk driving is not a mistake; everyone knows it is a) illegal, and b) potentially deadly.

However, I agree that this is not the time or the place to be discussing the specifics of this accident, ESPECIALLY since there has been no confirmation that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

I feel so awful for the families and friends of both victims.

#78

why the judgement?!?! 100% with supernatural here.

#79

There used to be a well-known recovering alcoholic and drug addict who often told an anecdote about driving a friend’s show horse out to Palm Springs. A friend rode along with him to keep him company. The whole time he was a bundle of nerves, driving under the speed limit in the slow lane, compulsively checking the mirrors.

Finally his friend said, “Dude…relax. It’s just a horse.”

“Yeah, but do you know how much money this horse is worth?”

“I’M YOR BEST FRIEND!”

#80

[QUOTE=ynl063w;8470739]
I think there is a HUGE difference between not being perfect and making mistakes, and getting behind the wheel of a car when you’re drunk. There are many, many people out here in the world who truly do not ever drink and drive and still don’t believe they’re perfect. Drunk driving is not a mistake; everyone knows it is a) illegal, and b) potentially deadly.

However, I agree that this is not the time or the place to be discussing the specifics of this accident, ESPECIALLY since there has been no confirmation that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

I feel so awful for the families and friends of both victims.[/QUOTE]

Actually it has been confirmed by the PBSO that alcohol was a factor.

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