|
|
|
|
Teen Killed In Horse-Riding Accident
**********************************************************************
More From The Muskegon Chronicle | Subscribe To The Muskegon Chronicle Family searches for answers in girl's death Friday, September 09, 2005 By Danielle Quisenberry CHRONICLE NEWS SERVICE Staci Cheadle rode a horse in the high school homecoming parade every fall for the past few years, as part of the equestrian team. This fall, the horse she would have ridden will have an empty saddle. The 17-year-old Coopersville High School senior was found dead early Thursday near the edge of a pond in the area of 248 N. 48th, said Ottawa County Sheriff's Department Lt. Mark Bennett. Based upon preliminary autopsy results, the Ottawa County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the death accidental. Additional autopsy results are pending, Bennett said. Cheadle's uncle, Dan Anderson of Coopersville, said on Wednesday she went to prepare a horse, owned by a friend's family, for an upcoming equestrian show. She never returned. Anderson said there is no indication Cheadle was riding the horse at the time because it was not saddled and had only a halter and lead rope. He said the family speculates Cheadle took the horse to the pond for a drink and it suddenly reared its head, knocking her into the pond. He said the only physical trauma found on Cheadle was a small bump on the head, probably not enough to knock her out. "It was a large horse and she was knocked face-first into the pond, which had about 3 feet of muck," he said. "She apparently could not get out." In honor of Cheadle, the school's equestrian team told her family a horse will walk the upcoming parade route without a rider. Cheadle, who hoped to become an X-ray technician, had a fondness for horses, animals she considered the "biggest and prettiest," said her father, Rodger Cheadle of Coopersville. "She just has always loved all animals. If it was an animal, it was for her." Cheadle, the high school's FFA vice president, helped train and exercise the dogs and raced them a few times in Mackinaw City and Kalkaska, Anderson said. "She was very passionate about her loves and life. She was a wonderful person," Coopersville High School Principal Ron Veldman said. She is survived by her parents, Rodger and Theresa; two brothers, Brian, 20, and Randy, 18; and a sister, Traci, 15. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Church of the Saviour, 180 N. 68th in Coopersville. ******************************************************************************************
Published September 10, 2005
Coopersville equestrian dies Associated Press COOPERSVILLE - A 17-year-old member of Coopersville High School's equestrian team was found dead near the edge of a pond, where her family believes she fell face-down into the water and drowned after a horse knocked her unconscious. Staci Cheadle's uncle, Dan Anderson, of Coopersville, said that Cheadle went to prepare a horse, owned by a friend's family, for an upcoming equestrian show. She never returned, and her body was found Thursday. Her family believes the horse bumped her in the head, knocking her unconscious. Authorities ruled the death accidental. In honor of Cheadle, the school's equestrian team told her family a horse will walk the school's homecoming parade route without a rider. "She was very passionate about her loves and life. She was a wonderful person," Coopersville High principal Ron Veldman told The Grand Rapids Press. Cheadle, who hoped to become an X-ray technician, had a fondness for horses, said her father, Rodger. She was also vice president of her school's Future Farmers of America. "She just has always loved all animals," he said. "If it was an animal, it was for her." Staci Cheadle is also survived by her mother, Theresa; her brothers, Brian, 20, and Randy, 18, and her sister, Traci, 15. *******************************************************************************************
COOPERSVILLE, Mich. -- A 17-year-old member of Coopersville High School's equestrian team was found dead near the edge of a pond, where her family believes she fell facedown into the water and drowned after a horse knocked her unconscious. Staci Cheadle's uncle, Dan Anderson, of Coopersville, said that Cheadle went to prepare a horse, owned by a friend's family, for an upcoming equestrian show. She never returned, and her body was found Thursday. Her family believes the horse bumped her in the head, knocking her unconscious. Authorities ruled the death accidental. In honor of Cheadle, the school's equestrian team told her family a horse will walk the school's homecoming parade route without a rider. "She was very passionate about her loves and life. She was a wonderful person," Coopersville High Principal Ron Veldman told The Grand Rapids Press. Cheadle, who hoped to become an X-ray technician, had a fondness for horses, said her father, Rodger. She was also vice president of her school's Future Farmers of America. "She just has always loved all animals," he said. "If it was an animal, it was for her." Staci Cheadle is also survived by her mother, Theresa; her brothers, Brian, 20, and Randy, 18, and her sister, Traci, 15. A memorial service was planned for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Church of the Saviour in Coopersville.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
