Polo player Delmer ‘Del’ Walton has died in a road traffic accident, leaving fans of the equestrian devastated by the loss.
Last Saturday (December 3rd), the 39-year-old from Blackville, South Carolina, was driving a 2004 Toyota Highlander SUV East on Highway 4 when it swerved off the road, Yahoo! News reported.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol revealed the vehicle overturned and hit a tree. As Walton was unrestrained, he was expelled from the car and died upon impact.
He was a third-generation polo player, as well as a polo trainer and breeder of ponies used in the game. Walton was also greatly loved by the Aiken Polo Club, which frequently named him MVP at events.
Manager of the team Tiger Kneece said: “He was a super fun guy.”
He added: “He was passionate about polo and even more so about his horses… We are definitely going to keep his legacy.”
As well as being a pillar of the local polo community, Walton owned Walton Farm Polo, which bred, boarded, and trained polo ponies.
He left behind his wife of 15 years, Tessa Callaghan Lord, and three sons David, Cal, and Harrison.
Kneece said Aiken Polo Club will “keep his boys involved and engaged in polo”, helping to keep up the tradition of polo-playing in the family.
The Polo Players Support Group Inc is taking donations for the family, and a GoFundMe page has raised nearly $20,000 (£16,442) so far.
Tessa’s cousin Kelly Forrestal, who has organised the fundraiser, commented: “His presence both on and off the polo field will be greatly missed.”
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