Woman That Dragged Horse To Death Says It Was An Accident

ARLINGTON - The driver who dragged a horse to its death is speaking out exclusively to Q13 Fox News. She says the trail of blood two miles along a rural Arlington road was a terrible accident.

We first told you about the incident a week ago, and since then neighbors have reacted with outrage over the animal's death. So, much anger the driver has asked us not to show her face or use her name.

"I think of him so many times during the day, I look for him out in the pasture and it just makes me sick."

The accident is still difficult to talk about. The woman was driving when she says the horse fell out of its trailer and was dragged to death on Grandview Road.

"It was just a horrible accident, the worst thing that can happen, the kind of thing you're always concerned about that a horse will go down in a trailer or come out of a trailer when you pull them."

The woman recently sold the horse to a friend and had borrowed it for a ride last Saturday. She says the horse named "Flash" and two other horses were properly tied up in the trailer.

"Got the horses loaded up, got everything ready to go, double checked everything and started up the road."

But, during the trip home the driver says the horse's back end fell out.

"As I drive I always check my mirrors frequently, I didn't see the door open, didn't see any sign of the horse, I didn't see anything amiss and I didn't feel anything."

The driver and her two passengers continued down the road not knowing the animal was dragging from the trailer.

"And, we pulled him quite a ways because we didn't feel any difference."

It was about 2 miles later that other drivers finally got her attention.

"They were honking at me and I didn't hear the honking even though we didn't have a radio on. But, as I turned a sharp corner I spotted a guy waving out of his window and I could hear him yelling, I could see him in my mirror."

It was much too late Flash was dead. The driver believes the horse broke its neck when it fell from the trailer and died instantly.

"It's just a horrible thing, just it stunned me and it devastated me."

Some people around Arlington have accused her of trying to harm or kill Flash on purpose. She calls those accusations outrageous.

"So, I would tell these people that I don't understand where anyone got that idea, it was just a horrific accident."

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office says no charges will be filed in this case. Deputies believe it was an accident.