A local man has been charged following a road traffic collision in the West Country which resulted in a young girl being airlifted to hospital and a horse being put down on the road.

Christopher Rogers, who is aged 61 and from Launceston in Cornwall, has been charged with driving without due care, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop after a road accident and criminal damage following the incident which took place on Sunday 12 January. 

According to a police statement, Rogers, who was driving a white Ford Transit van, collided with a girl riding a horse in Higher Treween, Altarnun near Launceston around 2.20pm on Sunday afternoon.

“Police have charged a man in connection to a road traffic collision at Altarnun, near Launceston, involving a van and horse on Sunday 12 January,” said the statement, which Your Horse received from Devon and Cornwall Police. 

Victim released from hospital

“The rider of the horse, an eight-year-old child, was airlifted to hospital but has since been discharged as her injuries were not as serious as first thought,” continued the statement. 

“The horse had to be humanely put to sleep by vets at the scene.”

A 12-year-old girl who was leading the horse was uninjured in the collision. 

The road was closed while investigations took place and reopened around 4.15pm on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Rogers has been released on bail and is due to appear before Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on Friday 7 February.

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