A woman has been seriously hurt and two others were taken to hospital after they were hit by a bolting horse in Russia last Wednesday (21 January).
The accident happened at a market in the city of Perm in central Russia.
The police believe the horse had bolted after a car beeped its horn.
CCTV footage of the incident showed the animal appear out of nowhere in the early evening and mow down the three women.
Naina Vasilieva, 22 and friends Jana Davydova, 23, and Hella Nevzorova, 23, had been shopping at a market in the town when they were hit by the horse as it galloped down the main road with its sleigh.
Local resident, Albina Muravyova who was watching, is reported as telling the local TV station: “It came out of nowhere. The horse didn’t slow down at all. They didn’t have a chance.”
She said after the horse had galloped off she ran over to see if she could help but all three women were unconscious. “I thought they were dead,” said Albina.
The three women were immediately taken to the local hospital and Naina Vasilieva was in intensive care with severe head injuries.
A spokesman for the hospital is reported online as saying: “She is in very serious condition with severe head trauma and is receiving around-the-clock care.”
The other two women had bruising and one had mild concussion but both are expected to make a full recovery.
Horse and sleigh rides are popular in Russia in the winter holidays. In Moscow horses appear in Troparevsky reserve at the end of December taking tourists on sleigh rides.
Perm is the third largest city in Russia after Moscow and Saint-Petersberg and is the most easterly city in Europe.
