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Monday, April 08, 2002

MERCER COUNTY: One was sober

What happens when someone who is riding a horse while under the influence of alcohol is struck by someone who is driving a truck under the influence?

The answer is that everyone gets charged with driving under the influence -- except the horse.

At about 1:25 a.m. yesterday, John Hayden, 44, of West Sunbury, Butler County, was driving his 1998 Ford F150 truck north on Old Ash Road in Springfield Township, Mercer County, and didn't see two men on horseback ahead of him.

Police said Keith Travis, 39, of Grove City, Mercer County, and his friend, Richard Noel, 49, of Sandy Lake, Mercer County, had left the Landmark Bar and were riding their horses on the road.

When Hayden's truck struck the rear end of a black horse being ridden by Travis, Travis and the horse fell to the ground.

Police said Hayden, Travis and Noel all failed field sobriety tests.

Only the horse was deemed to be sober. The horse was not killed and was removed from the scene.