Posted on 04/09/2007 10:40:28 AM PDT by Kimmers
Indianapolis - With all the drama of an old western, a 19-year-old Indianapolis man is credited for saving two passengers from a runaway carriage. The wild ride began North on Illinois Street just south of Washington and ended up two blocks away near Illinois and New York.
The Yellow Rose Carriages are popular attractions for visitors to downtown Indy. But late Sunday afternoon, for two women from Kentucky - and a Clydesdale named Captain - a pleasant ride turned frightening.
"It's almost like a movie," said Lt. Doug Scheffel, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Police say about 4:30 Sunday afternoon, the carriage was headed north on Illinois Street when a car crashed into them from behind.
"The impact actually ejected the driver and spooked the horses which caused the horses to take off," said Lt. Scheffel.
A 19-year-old passerby saw the accident and chased the carriage. That's where a bit of Hollywood heroics begins.
"I was just thinking those ladies could get killed," said Bill Basler, who came to the rescue. "I was actually running after the horse, then a taxi driver told me to get in."
Basler caught up with the runaway carriage at Illinois and Ohio Streets. "I wrapped my leg around one of the rails of the carriage, leaned back toward the ground grabbed the[reins] climbed up in the driver's seat and stopped [the carriage]," he said.
Like police, the Yellow Rose manager is amazed by the heroics of a young man and that no one was hurt.
"It is the best outcome," said Beth Batten.
The man who caused the crash, 46-year-old Timothy Carlson, faces charges for driving under the influence and operating a vehicle without a license. Carlson was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, DUI, and operating a vehicle without a license.
Captain, the Clydesdale who ran off with the carriage, will be back on the job Monday. The two passengers and the driver of the carriage suffered only minor injuries.
Cool story! I guess the buggy drivers will be required to wear seat belts in the near future.
Great story
Airbags on carriages are next.
Uh huh.
and, did this occur on Mulberry Street? Exactly.
A friend of mine runs a carriage business. One evening the horse got spooked, took off and killed a little boy.
It can be a very dangerous business.
*smile*
Sorry to hear that.
Was the driver that hit the carriage from behind texting an urgent message?
HRS-GT OUTA MY WY!
LMAO
If the horses had been fed their proper diet of baked beans, the car driver would never have gotten close enough to hit them.
We are now in the 21st century and it is long past the time we should take horse carriages off city streets. All they do is slow vehicular traffic and crap all over the roads.
A real hero!
Too bad he was not driving an SUV. Then everyone would have just blamed the darn SUV and Tim would have walked free.
So the answer to someone driving under the influence , without a license, is to get out of their way?
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