Two ponies drawing a carriage in Petaluma's annual Santa Parade ran out of control over the weekend, ejecting and running over one passenger before taking off with the other, a 7-year-old girl, who was plucked from the conveyance by a motorcycle cop just moments before the vehicle crashed into a parked car.
Nancy Turner, 59, of Healdsburg suffered minor injuries from being thrown and run over Saturday. The girl, Turner's granddaughter, was not hurt.
The parade began when Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus disembarked from the tugboat Petaluma at the turning basin on the Petaluma River around noon, greeted children and boarded a sleigh, police Sgt. Tim Lyons said.
The carriage carrying Turner and her granddaughter was one of several being drawn by horses along Sixth Street. Shortly after the parade began, motorcycle Officer Bert Walker heard a crash and saw Turner being thrown from the carriage and the two black Shetland ponies running out of control.
Turner held on to the carriage and was dragged for a bit along the road before the vehicle ran over her and she let go.
Walker soon caught up with the ponies and carriage, which ran into a street sign and then headed for a parked car.
Walker hopped off his motorcycle, jumped onto the carriage and grabbed the girl before the carriage crashed and the ponies broke free.
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Nancy Turner, 59, of Healdsburg suffered minor injuries from being thrown and run over Saturday. The girl, Turner's granddaughter, was not hurt.
The parade began when Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus disembarked from the tugboat Petaluma at the turning basin on the Petaluma River around noon, greeted children and boarded a sleigh, police Sgt. Tim Lyons said.
The carriage carrying Turner and her granddaughter was one of several being drawn by horses along Sixth Street. Shortly after the parade began, motorcycle Officer Bert Walker heard a crash and saw Turner being thrown from the carriage and the two black Shetland ponies running out of control.
Turner held on to the carriage and was dragged for a bit along the road before the vehicle ran over her and she let go.
Walker soon caught up with the ponies and carriage, which ran into a street sign and then headed for a parked car.
Walker hopped off his motorcycle, jumped onto the carriage and grabbed the girl before the carriage crashed and the ponies broke free.
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