Woman killed and dozens trampled by July 4th parade horse pair

Bolting parade horses injured many. (AP Photo/The Telegraph Herald, Mike Burley)

A 60-year-old Iowa woman was killed, and at least 23 others were injured, when a pair of carriage horses panicked and bolted during a 4th of July and Heritage Days Parade in Jackson County, Iowa, on Sunday, July 4, 2010.

What happened in the Bellevue, Iowa, parade?

The two black horses, owned by Mardell Steines and Janet Steines, flew out of control after one equine apparently rubbed the head of the other equine, removing the horse’s driving bridle.
 

Iowans helped parade victims (AP Photo/The Telegraph Herald, Karina Schroeder)

Mardell Steines’ black show carriage was equipped with a horizontal pole to separate the two horses from one another. It is unclear (at this point) whether the two driving horses were wearing parade blinders on their bridles or whether the bridle straps had broken during the tragic incident.

Dragging the Steines’ black show buggy, the two horses stampeded through the crowd-lined street in the eastern Iowa town, knocking down at least one street sign and toppling the carriage.

After approximately six blocks, the horses crashed into a parade van and trailer and finally stopped. By then, 23 or more individuals had been injured by the horses or the bouncing buggy. The victims ranged in age from two years old to adults. Many of the horse trampling victims were young children, who were picking up 4th of July parade candy during the procession.

Air Care helicopters transported several of the parade horse trampling victims to area medical centers. An estimated 14 suffered minor injuries, but many were critically hurt. Injuries included abrasions, broken bones, bruises, contusions and even collapsed lungs.
 

  Bolting parade horses' aftermath in Bellevue, Iowa (AP Photo/The Telegraph Herald, Mike Burley)

Carriage horse owner’s wife died.

Janet Steines, of Springbrook, Iowa, died on July 4th at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, after sustaining critical injuries when two horses dragged her husband’s carriage down Riverview Street (U.S. Route 52) in Bellevue, Iowa, shortly after 11:15 a.m.

Iowa's Hachmann Funeral Home & Cremation Service (parent company of Bellevue's Kingery Funeral Home) has not yet released details of memorial proceedings for Janet Steines.

Iowa Governor offered public sympathy statement.

Iowa’s Governor Chet Culver issued an official statement about the Bellevue parade horse tragedy.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the town of Bellevue and those injured at today’s Fourth of July parade,” said Chet Culver, Governor of Iowa. “I am especially saddened because the accident occurred during the events celebrating Independence Day, which is a day that should be filled with pride and joy for all Iowans and Americans. My prayers are for those who were in harm’s way and my thoughts are with their families. In addition, I want to thank the spectators who assisted the injured and the emergency responders who quickly provided medical care.”

Bellevue, Iowa, emergency call released.

Here’s a recording of the emergency call and discussions among local emergency and law enforcement personnel immediately after the pair of horses trampled parade participants and onlookers on July 4th in Bellevue, Iowa.
 

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