A guest at the State Fair of Texas was hospitalized Oct. 8 after a police horse spooked, bumped its rider and struck the visitor, officials said.
A Dallas Police Department officer was patrolling the plaza where Big Tex stands on Tuesday afternoon when the horse startled, the department told WFAA-TV.
The officer tried to gain control of the horse, but was thrown to the ground in the accident.
A spokesperson for the State Fair of Texas told KXAS-TV that the officer was medically evaluated while the injured fairgoer was hospitalized.
Police told KTVT-TV that the injured person is a 17-year-old boy. Officials have not released details about the teen’s injuries.
Videos posted on social media showed doctors treating the boy, who was lying on the ground.
The horse was returned to its stable.
“The safety of everyone at the State Fair of Texas is our first priority,” the fair spokesperson told KTVT. “We are deeply saddened that a fairgoer and an officer were injured and hope they will make a full recovery soon.”
