2 Hurt When Horse Drawn Carriage Tips Over During Funeral Procession in Pasadena

[Updated]  Two people suffered minor injuries after a horse drawn carriage tipped over following an incident in traffic during a funeral procession through Pasadena on Saturday.

Although earlier authorities said the casket was thrown from the carriage during the incident, which took place about 11:40 a.m. at Fair Oaks Avenue and Washington Boulevard, eyewitness accounts and photographs appear to indicate it remained inside the carriage.

“I don’t know what caused the horse to get scared,” an eyewitness told Pasadena Now. “When I arrived at the intersection the horse was going in circles. At first I thought they were doing it on purpose and … two men were blocking traffic for it. Then I realized the horse was out of control. At some point the carriage ran over the motorcycle and was dragging it.”

After the carriage tipped over the horse ended up on its side on the pavement, tangled in its harness.

A local man contacted Pasadena Now to say he had cut the horse free using bolt cutters.

“I was the first one there who responded before the fire department [got] there, to try to do the best I can,” said Devon Harmon of My TRIBE Rise.

The horse did not appear to be injured, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. 

The two people who suffered injuries described as minor had been seated atop the carriage when it tipped, officials said. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Derderian said it does not appear any other vehicles were involved. Pasadena police will conduct an investigation, she said.