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Woman May Have been Killed by Cop Horse

by Matt Van Hoven

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January 11, 2008

NEW YORK – A Rochester woman died yesterday after she attempted to pet a police horse outside a suburban mall. Witnesses say the woman fell under the animal.

Authorities have not determined whether the horse stepped on her or if the fall killed her.

Accounts from four different witnesses revealed four different stories, authorities say. Monroe County Sheriff's Cpl. John Helfer said those accounts are inconclusive.

The victim, 51-year-old Susan Banker, reportedly walked with a cane. According to Banker's sister, Susan asked the officer if it would be alright for her to pet the animal. He agreed, but the horse backed away when she came forward.

Banker's sister claims the horse stepped on Susan. She was pronounced dead soon after the incident.

Police horses are trained to be calm around people, indicating the animal may have somehow been unnerved by the situation.

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deaths & accidents, horses

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Kimberly B.
Kimberly B. (Kad46)
5 months ago
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what a sad situation, sounds to me llike there is a lawsuit in the makings..so sad
 
Illinifan
Illinifan
5 months ago
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It is not the horses fault I know how they react,even if the horse stepped on her who says the horse did it on purpose.
 
David R.
David R. (Wally)
6 months ago
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The biggest threat to people is other people and their cars, guns, tempers. This story should have included the fact that the woman was legally drunk. I do feel sorry for her and I do believe it was an accident. We'll probably never know the full story.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
5 months ago
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this comment has been removed from the system
 
chili1zz
chili1zz
6 months ago
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this is a sad story it seem like no one knew anything so it makes you wounder what happen
 
mARY ANN M.
mARY ANN M. (foxflower)
6 months ago
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Without an autopsy everyone is just guessing especially when there were 4 witnesses with 4 different stories.

Let's say worse case scenario, the woman fell and the horse stepped on her. Is it safer to have squad cars etc.? How many vehicle accidents are there as opposed to cops on horses?

I'de say this story is a little premature and a lot of guessing so fueling the fire before we know if there is even any smoke.
 
forrest1999
forrest1999
6 months ago
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It can't be the horse's fault. These are highly trained almost bombproof animals. How can it be that no one saw what happened? It had to be a freak accident.
 
Katrina V.
Katrina V. (wvtracefan)
6 months ago
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I feel terrible for the family. I've always decided that you should never ever approach a service animal.
 
2koolkittys
2koolkittys
6 months ago
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Certainly sounds like there is more to the story. It seems like an accident and really the horse should not be blamed. These horses are highly trained for their jobs and there must be something they are not telling us.
 
Penguin
Penguin
6 months ago
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Don't know what went wrong. My sympathy goes out to the family of the women. What a terrible accident. I'm sure no one involved thought anything like this would happen.
 
JAG
JAG
6 months ago
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This is sad, but it looks like a complete accident. you certainly can't blame the horse.
 
Alex J.
Alex J. (roadisland49)
6 months ago
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HOw sad for the family
 
ashley G.
ashley G. (ashgraham)
6 months ago
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I would say it was an accident the horse may have gotten spooked at the sight of her cane and just reacted to instinct,protecting itself! Can't realy blame the horse for this awful accident!
 
megan c.
megan c. (horselvr21)
6 months ago
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this sounds like a bad acciedent
 
Jeanie F.
Jeanie F. (JFulton99)
6 months ago
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Can't blame the horse.
 
tommyhunt74
tommyhunt74
6 months ago
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well i don"t think we should be blameing the horse. i mean the lady should have knowing not to be petting animals that she did"nt know.
 
jill l.
jill l. (JillLong)
6 months ago
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I agree, this does sound like an accident. Just a tragedy.
 
amanda j.
amanda j. (amandaaaj)
6 months ago
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This does sound like a freak accident. there are no ways that you could predict a horse stepping on a lady and actually killing her. the policeman should not let the public go near the horses to avoid any potential dangers.
 
Shawnda
Shawnda (kayk1969)
6 months ago
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Sounds like a freak accident. It really don't say the horse stepped on her or anything, with the blood alcohol level being high, she might have fallen and hit her head. Still sad story, my thoughts are with the family!
 
Sharon L.
Sharon L. (SharonLinch)
6 months ago
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Four different people saw four different things. Don't let people pet working animals!
 
Hughie
Hughie
6 months ago
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Unfortunate accident.
 
Jamie M.
Jamie M. (jamiedee)
6 months ago
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How bizarre. This does not say that the horse trampled her or anything. How did she die if she just fell? did she hit her head? This is a strange and freaky type of accident.
 
LoriHill123
LoriHill123
6 months ago
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How sad. Thanks for the update
 
David R.
David R. (Wally)
6 months ago
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I tried to find a follow-up to this story but only discovered this:

"The Lima woman killed after falling beneath a horse outside Marketplace Mall this weekend had a blood alcohol content level more than three times the legal limit.

Investigators are still awaiting final toxicology and cause of death reports on Susan Banker.

An autopsy revealed Banker had a blood alcohol level at the time of her death of .25."

While it is inconclusive at this point, she may have slipped because of her own intoxication. And the officer probably should have been more diligent.

Too much alcohol is probably the root cause.
 
Sharon L.
Sharon L. (SharonLinch)
6 months ago
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I think it is really wrong to blame the horse, especially if this woman was intoxicated.
 
Cindy Q.
Cindy Q. (cindypurple)
6 months ago
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this is tragic
I don't blame anyone. I think this is just one of those misfortunate events where no one is to blame
 
gregw
gregw
6 months ago
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Has there been any follow up on this story? An autopsy should have revealed the cause of death. Many cities use horse in crowd control and they are very well trained.
 
Lana S.
Lana S. (critterfriend)
6 months ago
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Maybe the lady DIED and THEN fell where the horse stepped on her. It doesn't sound like anyone knows what happened for sure.
 
Barbara K.
Barbara K. (Ishbish)
6 months ago
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A sad story. I don't blame the horse (or the person, for that matter).
 
Chrissy
Chrissy (blondiestlouis)
6 months ago
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Tragic.
 
Ustice101
Ustice101
6 months ago
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that is very sad
 
Marissa N.
Marissa N. (Marissa1992)
6 months ago
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That poor lady and her family. They must be devestated.
 
D. Rene
D. Rene (mooredr3)
6 months ago
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This is a very unusual accident!
 
loveshorses
loveshorses
6 months ago
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Can't blame the horse
 
Amy S.
Amy S. (amycsmith19)
6 months ago
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sad story
 
Sharon L.
Sharon L. (SharonLinch)
6 months ago
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Important to know this kind of thing can happen. When you have service animals
such as dogs you aren't suppose to pet them while they are working. Same should go for horses. Sorry for the family.
 
ruthie
ruthie (ruthiegirl66)
6 months ago
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People should know better, horses can be dangerous just because of their size not necessarily because they're mean.
 
Casey S.
Casey S. (rodeochick)
6 months ago
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well maybe she shouldnt have touched the horse....
 
Brad J.
Brad J. (BradJohnston)
6 months ago
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Very unfortunate, but I would like to hear the other stories to get an idea of what actually happened.
 
Clang
Clang
6 months ago
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everyone always wants to blame the cops...as they said - 4 different perspectives. it's a shame it happened.
 
Sharon L.
Sharon L. (SharonLinch)
6 months ago
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Yes, I thought that four different stories was really interesting. A follow up story is in order.
 
aperature77
aperature77
7 months ago
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I feel very sorry about this BUT you wouldn't go up and pet a strange dog and you shouldn't approach a strange animal. Something smells about this sotry though and I would like more info on it.
 
Jill6Johnson
Jill6Johnson
7 months ago
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very unusal accident. I feel sorry for all involved.
 
Cindy M.
Cindy M. (krazykritter12)
7 months ago
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More info please what did all the witnesses say?
 
RubyRoo
RubyRoo
7 months ago
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I'd like more information about this story. Seems kind of fishy...
 
Mary G.
Mary G. (Norton)
7 months ago
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I don't like this story. The woman was not steady on her feet, feel down, cracked her head and died. A tragic accident. It is doubtful that the police horse had anything to do with her unfortunate death.
 
Logan
Logan (Barker4)
7 months ago
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I'm sure the horse did not mean to do this.
 
SandyReedy
SandyReedy
7 months ago
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The officer should never have allowed the physically handicapped lady near the horse. I know this is the wisdom of hindsight, but the lady obviously was not very mobile, and extra precautions were in need. Horses are so big, and the rest of us are so small. It is an uneven contest.
 
greenkitty44
greenkitty44
7 months ago
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I would be interested in hearing what the autopsy had to say....like if she was trampled or hit her had or something....I'm sure they could tell if she had a horse hoof on her body or not.
 
iseeurn
iseeurn
7 months ago
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sad story
 
vanrigs
vanrigs
7 months ago
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such a horrible accident.i'm sure the horse did'nt mean to step on her. maybe she hit her head on the cement and the horse had nothing to do with her death.
 
dkblainey
dkblainey
7 months ago
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I feel bad for this woman and her family. It was a very unfortunate accident. I just hope that the horse or police horses in general don't have to pay for this. It was just an accident.
 
Sandy
Sandy (schnzermom)
7 months ago
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Obviously if the horse did step on her it was an accident...being flight animals, I never really believe that a horse is bomb-proof because certain situations come up like the woman with the cane, that the horse may have not been accustomed to. It's sad, but I think if the horse did cause her fall, it was purely accidental.

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