UPDATED 2:25 p.m., Jan. 4: According to Andres Rodriguez’ official Facebook page, Rodriguez has died from his injuries. “It is with the deepest sadness that we have to announce that Andres Rodriguez and his passenger Sophie Walker suffered a tragic car accident on Monday morning in Wellington, Florida. Circumstances of the accident are still unclear. Sophie Walker passed away in the accident and despite all efforts Andres passed away a few hours later. We are lost for words. Our prayers and thoughts go to Sophie’s family, to Andres’ wife and family.”
Original story: Andres Rodriguez, the individual silver medalist from the 2015 Pan American Games (Canada), is reported to be in critical condition following an automobile accident in Wellington, Fla., early Monday morning, according to local Palm Beach news reports.
Reports also indicate that Sophie Walker, an amateur rider and the wife of professional trainer Brian Walker, was a passenger in the vehicle Rodriguez was driving and died at the scene of the accident.
According to local news reports, the accident took place at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club at approximately 3:25 a.m.
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Rodriguez, 31, represented Venezuela at the 2015 Pan American Games where, along with his individual silver medal finish behind McLain Ward, he qualified to compete as an individual at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. He also represented Venezuela in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final (Spain).
He was a frequent winner at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, the Tryon Equestrian Center (N.C.) and Spruce Meadows (Canada) venues on horses such as Fifty Fifty 111, Caballito and Verdi.
The Chronicle will continue to post updates on this story as more information is obtained.
