A teen’s trip to the State Fair of Texas took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when a police horse ran amok, injuring the teen and throwing the riding officer to the ground.
The chaotic incident unfolded near the iconic Big Tex statue, sending emergency responders rushing to the scene. Witnesses reported that an officer on horseback entered the crowded plaza but quickly lost control of the animal.
One state fair attendee posted a video on social media claiming that the officer was obtaining a drink from one of the stands while still on horseback. After getting the drink, the horse took off unexpectedly, resulting in the officer being thrown to the ground.
As the horse bolted through the crowd, it collided with the teenage male visitor, sending him to the hospital. Footage captured of the incident and aftermath, shows a swarm of police and EMTs attending to the injured teen as he lays on the ground.
“The cop f****d up by getting a drink while on a horse and not having full control. (It) was weird he was not dropping the drink when the horse started going crazy. The cop ended up getting stuck on the saddle and fell off. Then the cop came to the scene and I asked him what happened and he said, ‘I don’t know. I’m trying to figure it out,'” one witness told CultureMap.
Authorities are investigating the incident to ensure safety measures are in place for the remainder of the fair.
A representative from the State Fair of Texas confirmed to NBC 5 that the injured visitor was taken to the hospital, while the officer who was thrown from the horse was undergoing evaluation for injuries.
The State Fair representative also said, “The safety of everyone at the State Fair of Texas is our number one priority. We are deeply saddened that a fairgoer and officer were injured and hope they make a full recovery soon.”