Woman injured and horse killed after hit-and-run outside Woodlake

WOODLAKE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A South Valley woman is asking the community for help after she said a man hit and killed her horse and left her injured in the roadway.

The hit-and-run accident happened just outside of Woodlake on Friday night. We want to warn our more sensitive viewers, this story is graphic.

While riding her horse on SR-245 near Avenue 322, someone ran down Michelle Brown.

"The car was just coming. And I watched him hit us. Then everything blacked out," she said.

After flying 150 feet, Brown said she somehow survived. She was taken to the hospital with a concussion and possible broken bones. But she was alert enough to see her horse was left in pieces scattered across the road.

"I looked right at the man and he was laying back in the seat and I said don't you leave you killed my horse," said Brown.

A former firefighter and his wife were one of the first witnesses to help.

"I heard him start his vehicle, over and over, attempting to start it," said Scotty Shewman. When the suspect made a run for it, Shewman said he followed, furious the man drove off.

"(I was) angry enough where I wanted him to be caught. Either it to be me, or to ride long enough to where law enforcement would come pick up the chase. and stop this person," said Shewman. "He gets out and he starts walking towards us, it took him awhile to get out. So I turn around, and as soon as look back he starts chasing us. He chased us all the way down the street before ducking behind the residence," he said.

Right now the suspect still hasn't been found. "He's obviously dangerous to himself, as well as other people," said Shewman.

We tracked down the owner of the car involved in the crash to a Madera residence. But no one at the home said they know the man or knows why he had the car.

At this point, Brown just wants answers and justice for her best friend.

"My horse saved my life. He saved my life," she said.