Hudson's Bay teacher killed in fall from horse

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - A Clark County sheriff's officer says a 57-year-old Battle Ground woman has died of injuries suffered in an apparent fall from a horse.

Sgt. Kevin Allais said deputies were called Wednesday evening to a boarding stable in Hockinson after a horse returned without its rider. A fellow rider went looking for the missing woman and found the body of Candace Morrison about a mile up a gravel road owned by a timber company.

Allais says Morrison had not been wearing a riding helmet and suffered head trauma. An autopsy is pending.

Morrison was a music teacher at Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver.

Patricia Lilly, a close friend of Morrison, says Morrison died doing what she loved when she wasn't in the classroom teaching music - horseback riding.

"She loved her students," said Lilly. "I just came back from (the school) listening to students say, 'I wouldn't still be in school if it wasn't for Mrs. Morrison'."

Morrison retired from the West Linn school district after nearly 30 years - but after a short break she got back into teaching at Hudson in 2006.

This is the second tragedy to hit this school just this year.

Last fall, science teacher Gordon Patterson was hit and killed while riding his bike.

The student behind the wheel was sentenced to five years in prison.

A letter has been sent out by the principal to parents - telling them counselors will be on hand to talk to students and how they can help their child cope with this senseless tragedy.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)