A nine-year-old is in stable condition after an SUV collided with a horse and buggy in Ashfield-Colbourne-Wawanosh on Monday.
The crash occurred along Belgrave Road between St. Augustine Line and Donnybrook Line.
The child was ejected from the buggy and had to be transported to London hospital for treatment. There were four occupants in the buggy but only one reported serious injury.
No charges were laid, as the collision was caused by animal error, according to Huron County OPP Constable Craig Soldan.
“The SUV driver was travelling westbound on Belgrave Road and the horse and buggy was travelling eastbound in the shoulder portion of the roadway, when the horse abruptly turned left into the path of the westbound SUV,” he said. “The driver was unable to avoid the collision. Reportedly the horse went up onto the hood and caused damage into the windshield before landing on the roadway. So officers had to dispatch the animal and close the roadway.”
The road was reopened early Tuesday morning.
Soldan reminds drivers to use caution when approaching buggies.
“If you see them, please allow a wide berth as you pass and certainly slow down, reduce your speed. Never assume that the horse or horses are going to travel in a straight line: most of them do but things obviously can spook the horses, sounds, noises, your vehicle approaching… Just keep a real close eye on it and be prepared to slow or stop and avoid that collision. I think this driver did the best they could, however it was just a situation where the horse was directly in front of their vehicle and they couldn’t avoid it,” he said.
