The death of an 18-year-old junior rodeo champion who perished in a bizarre horse-related accident has left a Texas community in mourning.

A representative for the Lott Volunteer Fire Department told CBS affiliate KWTX-TV that at approximately 8 a.m. local time on Monday, August 12, near Chilton, Ace Patton Ashford of Lott, Texas, was tending to a sick calf when a nearby horse became agitated.

The Lott VFD official told KWTX, “The horse [dragged] the man a good distance in an open field after his leg became tangled.Ashford had sustained severe head injuries, but he was still breathing and had a pulse when emergency personnel arrived.

According to his obituary, the recent high school graduate passed away after being airlifted to Baylor Scott & White Hospital. Read more below