Horse-Drawn Buggy And Truck Collide Near Petaluma

By Bay City News Service

Updated 4:07 p.m.:  An 11-year-old Cotati girl and a man driving a horse-drawn carriage were injured in a collision near Petaluma Saturday afternoon, police said.

  James Crawford, 63, of Pleasanton and his horse "Lady" were providing horse-drawn carriage rides at a family event at a home on East Washington Street, according to police.

   The horse became spooked at around noon and took off running at full speed, and Crawford was unable to stop it. They hit a city traffic sign, and Crawford was thrown out.

  He tried to hold onto the reins of the carriage and was dragged for several yards before losing his grip.

  A 58-year-old Petaluma man, Martin Sessi, was driving eastbound on East Washington Street when he saw Crawford get ejected from the runaway carriage, according to police.

  Seeing that the horse was running down the middle of the street with the girl still in the rig, Sessi pulled his truck over just as the horse ran past and the carriage hit the truck head-on — right before it would have been pulled into oncoming traffic.

     The girl suffered minor to moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital. Crawford was also treated for injuries that are not considered life-threatening, police Lt. Ken Savano said.

  Savano said police are "very thankful that (Sessi) was paying attention and being an alert driver" and siad that his actions likely prevented the girl from suffering more serious injuries.

  After the carriage hit with the truck, the horse broke free and ran into a nearby neighborhood. 

  The animal was located a short time later with minor injuries and was being monitored by Petaluma Animal Control officers, police said.

  The collision remains under investigation and any additional witnesses are asked to call Petaluma police Officer Paul Accornero at (707) 778-4598.