Horseback Rider Critically Injured Before Talala Rodeo

A woman was critically injured in a horseback riding accident at a rodeo in Talala on Saturday, officials say.

Northwest Rogers County Fire Protection District and OTEMS paramedics were called at 6:23 p.m. for an accident that occurred during setup for a performance tonight of the Cowboy Country Fellowship Rodeo.

According to initial reports, a woman in her late 40s was critically injured when her horse reared up and fell directly on top of her during preparations for the event.

Officials said the woman was working to break in a new horse when the accident occurred.

OTEMS paramedics treated her on the scene and determined that she needed to be transported by air ambulance to a major trauma center hospital in Tulsa and called Life Flight because of the distance and severity of the injuries.

Life Flight arrived at the scene about 6:50 p.m. and lifted off to take the patient to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa just after 7:15 p.m.

OTEMS Operations Director Kelly Deal said the victim was in critical condition when patient care was turned over to Life Flight.

The two-day rodeo was being held at the Common Ground Ranch Arena, part of the property on which the church is located.

The accident happened between the sanctuary of the church, which is in a converted barn, and the rodeo arena on land previously known locally for many years as the Logsdon Ranch.

The Rogers County Sheriff's Office and the Talala Police Department also responded to the incident. Rogers County will investigate the accident.

The victim's name was not released pending notification of next of kin.

(Oologah Lake Leader photo)