One Person Killed, 23 People Hurt in Horse Accident During Iowa Parade

Police confirm a 60-year-old woman has died from her injuries and 23 others were injured after two horses broke loose at a Fourth of July "Heritage Day Parade" in Bellevue and charged down the street for six blocks.

Police in Bellevue say that a 60-year-old woman has died of injuries she sustained in the accident. Her name is not available at this time. Twenty-three people were injured, including at least two children who were in critical condition, police and hospital officials said.

The horses took off after one rubbed its head against the other, removing that horse's bridle, police said. The horses, with a wagon in tow, galloped for several blocks, running over children and adults who sat and stood along the streets watching the parade in Bellevue. At one point, the wagon flipped, ejecting two people in it, police said.

Sandie Crilly, 46, of Willow Springs, Ill., said she was collecting Tootsie Rolls from the street with her 8-year-old son, 12-year-old niece and 2-year-old granddaughter when the horses ran toward them about halfway through the parade. Someone yelled to get out of the way, she said. "I could see it was two horses," Crilly said. "I could see they were running at full speed and they were harnessed together and I knew we were going to most certainly get hit, and as soon as it happened, everybody was crying and screaming."

Crilly, who was visiting her parents in Bellevue, said someone pulled her granddaughter to safety, but her niece was left with a broken left wrist and had her two front teeth knocked out. Everyone else in their group suffered bumps and bruises, she said.

"It was obvious they were out of control, Donna Jaster, a witness, said.

Another witness, Kristen Jaster, said, "There was probably no way of stopping them without great risk to the person jumping in."

Jeff Junk also watched it all happen. "They were mowing people over. Little kids were getting mowed over. They were probably going 40 miles per hour," he said. "I've never seen nothing like it, and I never want to see it again."

Five people were critically injured, five others severely injured and 14 suffered minor injuries, police and fire officials said in a statement. The victims were as young as 2 years old and suffered injuries ranging from multiple fractures to collapsed lungs and abrasions, officials said. Life-flight helicopters flew some people to local hospitals.

The parade is a decades-long tradition in the town of about 2,300 people, located 25 miles south of Dubuque on the Iowa-Illinois border.

"The mood is shock and disbelief," Bellevue Mayor Virgil Murray said. "We've had this parade forever. We've had horses in the parade forever."

"You were in shock because you couldn't believe this was actually happening," Mary Martino, another witness, said. Martino pulled two-year-old Raina out of harm's way just in time. "I just grabbed her and whipped her around to the sidewalk," she said. "Everyone was in panic mode ... like oh, my God, the horses are charging."

Paramedics treated victims in a nearby art gallery, Crilly said, and a triage area was set up near the Mississippi River, where volunteers held up tarps to shield the injured and paramedics from the sun and heat. Others brought the injured ice and water, she said.

"It was madness," Crilly said. "I mean we were in a triage. The town really came together. It was a huge community effort."

Murray said residents pitched in, making phone calls and sending text messages to get word out that doctors and nurses were needed.

The injured were sent by ambulance and medical helicopter to hospitals in Dubuque, Maquoketa and Iowa City. Ten patients were taken to Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque, nine of them children, house supervisor Carol Dietzel said.

One child in critical condition was flown to University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, and another critically injured child was in surgery at Mercy Medical, she said. Six children were treated and released.

"We've never really had any tragedy," the mayor said. "Usually our biggest nemesis is if it rains. That's what we're always worried about."

Between 3,000 and 4,000 people attend the annual parade, many people coming in from rural areas and nearby towns, he said.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver released a statement, saying he was thinking and praying for the victims. "I am especially saddened because the accident happened during the events celebrating Independence Day, which is a day that should be filled with pride and joy for all Iowans and Americans," Culver said.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Iowa
• 4th
• of
• July
• Parade
• Horse
• Accident
• Killed
• Hurt
• Buggy
• Carriage
• Accidental
• parade
• Belleview
• Independence
• Day
• Fourth
• Tradegy

[phosch22]

how is this funny?

wouldnt be so funny if it happend to you

[IranContraScumDid911]

@phosch22 It is not funny, it is serious and a horrible tradegy on a day meant for community happiness and celebration. I pray for everybody that got hurt and the families of those killed. Very Sad.

[oldtimeway1]

What a tragedy, my heart goes out to the injured and the horse owner. Seems there is always an idiot at a parade who throws firecrackers or does something to try and spook the horses. There's getting fewer and fewer horses in local parades all the time because some people have raised their children to be idiots it seems.

[kill2liveman]

@chuck496 go fuck yourself you stupid dick

[GlompoFie]

They weren't charging... they were in flight mode. The were scared to death because morons were throwing shit at them. The people who caused this to happen should have been charged with manslaughter for killing that poor old woman and intentional assault upon 23 other people.

[MrSchmidty3]

hard to believe i was right there across from the combine the horses hit.

[chynnavictoria]

my friend Emma was in this she broke her arm and very badly hurt :(

[shetlandmad]

the person who killed that poor lady and injured so many is the bastard who threw the firecracker under the horses. i daresay the poor animals are either dead or traumatised. do you not have cctv. has anyone been charged.  probably not, but if they were my horses i would still be asking questions. i will be interested to view comments. have only just seen this accident as am now learning to use my computer,nearlky 70,.but watch this space, still have a brain and a view!!!

[Fockersnextdoor]

@WAGSPRODUCTIONS why did you put the fake age of 28 on your home channel kid with the hawkeye bag? did I catch you in a lie? If you want to grow up to be warrior class American then you are going to have to stop telling lies.

[WAGSPRODUCTIONS]

@mhunterjumper thank you for putting idiots like these in their place..... obviously they werent there and didnt hear the screams and the crying.....

[WAGSPRODUCTIONS]

@jrunberg shut you mouth. where you there? did you witness the screaming people and parents for their children? or do you think its a joke that kids had legs crushed and collapsed lungs?

[WAGSPRODUCTIONS]

@et720 Get a life you queer if you were there you wouldnt make ANY jokes.... i was