Driver, rider share blame in crash

A distracted truck driver retrieving his dropped phone and a woman on horseback leading two other riders are blamed for a crash that killed two animals and injured the two riders.

A woman on horseback leading two other riders and a distracted truck driver were both blamed for causing a crash that left two horses dead and two riders hospitalized, Davie police said Friday.

On July 8, Joy Shupnick, 62, a volunteer at American Horse Trails riding school in South“Based west Ranches, was leading Camila Manrique, 9, and her father, Miguel Manrique, on a ride at Griffin Road and Southwest 198th Terrace.

Shupnick tried to stop traffic so the riders could cross Griffin Road. But police said she did not obey pedestrian laws requiring horseback riders who are out of a crosswalk to yield the right of way to all vehicles.

At the same time, James Rink, 24, of Coral Springs was driving a Toyota Tundra pickup east along Griffin Road.

Rink told police he saw horses at the south side of Griffin Road, dropped his phone and after he retrieved it and looked back up, he was unable to avoid hitting the riders. He said he was not texting or using the phone when the crash happened, according to police reports.

on all the evidence obtained in this investigation, it was determined that both adults — Joy Shupnick and James Rink — share fault,” Davie Police Sgt. Mark Leone said Friday.

Shupnick and Camila were thrown from their horses. Manrique and his mount were on the south side of Griffin

Road at the time and were not injured.

Davie Fire Rescue took Shupnick, of North Miami, to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. A Broward Sheriff’s helicopter flew Camila, of Bay Harbor Islands, to the same trauma center.

They are now recuperating at home.

Neither Rink nor Shupnick was cited in the crash, no charges were pending and the investigation was closed, said Davie Police, which provides police protection for Southwest Ranches.

No charges were pending and the investigation was closed.