A guest at the State Fair of Texas was hospitalized on Oct. 8 after a police horse became startled, bucked its rider and struck the visitor, officials said.
A Dallas Police Department mounted officer was patrolling the plaza where Big Tex stands on Tuesday afternoon when the horse got spooked, the department told WFAA-TV.
The officer tried to control the horse but was thrown to the ground in the accident.
A State Fair of Texas spokesperson told KXAS-TV that the officer was being 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 of the teen’s injuries.
Videos posted to social media showed medics tending to the boy, who was lying on the ground.
The horse was returned to its barn.
“The safety of everyone at the State Fair of Texas is our number one priority,” the fair spokesperson told KTVT. “We are deeply saddened that a fairgoer and officer were injured and hope they make a full recovery soon.”