SAVANNAH, GA. (April 14, 2014): A buggy driver was transported for treatment of injuries and five passengers escaped serious injury when the horse pulling the carriage they were in startled, crashing the coach into five vehicles in Downtown Savannah Monday afternoon.
Ashley Bignault, 37, was transported to Memorial University Medical Center after 12:28 p.m. incident that started at Bryan and Barnard Streets at Ellis Square and spread over six blocks.
The tour carriage, operated by Historic Savannah Carriage, was carrying a 42-year-old woman and children age 12, 10 and 7 as well as a 67-year-old woman from Sleepy Hollow, NY. The elder woman was treated at a nearby urgent care center and released.
Officers from the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department said the carriage was approaching the tour terminus at Bryan and Barnard streets when the horse began running. A bridle became dislodged, making it difficult to control the horse.
The horse ran to the south side of Ellis Square and continued east on Congress Street with the carriage striking five vehicles before the driver was ejected. The horse reversed course to Whitaker Street and eventually turned down Congress Lane where employees of a restaurant caught it near Bull Street and calmed it with carrots. No injury to the horse was reported.
MAIT officers continue to investigate.
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