Startled carriage horses bolt during Iowa Fourth of July parade, killing 1 and injuring 23

Horses bolt during Iowa parade; 1 killed, 23 hurt

BELLEVUE, Iowa — Sandie Crilly was helping her 8-year-old son, 12-year-old niece and 2-year-old granddaughter pick up Tootsie Rolls from the ground during Bellevue’s annual Fourth of July parade when someone yelled to get out of the way.

She says she looked up and saw two panicked horses dragging a carriage charging toward them.

Crilly’s niece broke her wrist and lost her two front teeth. Police and hospital officials say at least 22 other people were injured and one woman was killed.

Police say the horses got spooked after they rubbed heads and one’s bridle fell off. They galloped for several blocks through the town of about 2,300 residents along the Iowa-Illinois border.