Vigil held for Tiverton teenager

TIVERTON, R.I. (WPRI) - Dozens gathered in Tiverton last night to remember a young woman killed while horseback riding.

19-year-old Cayla Almy died after being thrown from a horse, which apparently got spooked while she was riding through the woods with a family member Sunday night.

More than 100 people in Tiverton showed up for the candlelight vigil. They were all in shock after losing a friend so young.

"It's just so sad that it happened to her at such a young age, she had her whole life ahead of her," said Almy's friend Delight Bucko.

Neighbors tell us they attempted CPR, then she was transported by helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital, where she died from her injuries.

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Almy's friends and family were stunned at the number of people that showed up to say goodbye to Cayla.

"Tiverton's a small community, but what's great is we have a huge heart for her," said Bucko.

"She was always a happy person," recalled friend Angelina Mackie. "She was always smiling, she was always uplifting, she was always walking through the hallways like she owned the place. She was great."

It's not clear yet whether or not Almy was wearing a riding helmet when she was thrown from the horse.

Grief counselors will be on hand all week to help students cope.