Equine encounter

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BELLEVILLE - A horse running loose along U.S. 655 on Monday evening caused serious damage when it crashed into a Mifflin County Regional Police patrol car near Reedsville.

Police said that on Monday a vehicle operated by George Mohler of Belleville struck the rear of a horse-drawn carriage along U.S. 655 in the area of Applehouse Road in Belleville, throwing its occupants, Moses J. Yoder and his wife, from the carriage. Police said both sustained minor injuries, and were treated and later released from Lewistown Hospital.

Police said that during the accident the horse came loose from the carriage and started to run toward Reedsville. Several bystanders attempted to stop the horse and began to pursue it with a spotlight in their vehicle, police said. As police were responding to the accident they observed the horse out of control and running in the opposite lane of travel.

According to the report, the horse failed to slow down or stop for a patrol car that was parked in the roadway in the area of Hayes Crossing and struck the front of the patrol car head-on. Police said they were attempting to the stop the horse from continuing toward Reedsville and endangering other motorists, but did not intentionally place the patrol vehicle in the path of the horse.

The patrol car sustained severe damage as a result of the horse crushing the windshield and a portion of the roof, the report indicates.

The horse also sustained injuries as a result of the collision and a veterinarian from Centre County was contacted to assess the horse's injuries, according to the report. On Wednesday, police said they did not have any additional information on the condition of the horse.

Police said Mohler will be cited for the accident. Police were assisted at the scene by Big Valley Ambulance, Belleville Fire Company, Fame EMS and Mifflin County Fire Police.