(September 26, 2007)--The Texas Department of Criminal Justice independent investigator's office and the Texas Rangers are reviewing this week's deadly inmate escape attempt near Huntsville, and it appears a lapse by one guard may have cost another guard her life.

It happened Monday as seven mounted guards supervised more than 70 inmates who were working in a vegetable field outside of the Wynne Unit.

The lapse occurred as one of the guards allowed an inmate to approach him.

Department spokeswoman Michelle Lyons says mounted guards are required to stay 30 feet away from inmates, but the male correctional officer evidently allowed an inmate to approach to ask the guard to hold a watch.

The prisoner pulled the guard from his horse, setting the escape attempt in motion.

As two inmates fled in a stolen truck parked nearby, the truck struck a horse ridden by 59-year-old correctional officer Susan Canfield, who fell to the ground and died.

Convicts John Ray Falk and Jerry Duane Martin were recaptured within four hours.

Canfield's horse was euthanized after a bullet wound was discovered.

Click Here For Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Web Site

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