Australian Tourists Hurt During New York Carriage Ride

The New York Daily News have reported that a runaway carriage horse wreaked havoc during the start of rush hour on Thursday afternoon ,after breaking free and running off before hitting a parked car near Columbus Circle.

Australian tourists Nathan and Kelly Thompson were enjoying a ride around the popular tourist spot around 4.20 pm when driver Mehmet Dundar tried to merge into traffic at the circle, witnesses and law enforcement sources said.

The black and white horse - aptly named Oreo - got spooked by a close-passing van and other heavy traffic, sending it into a frenzy, witnesses and officials said.

Six-year-old Oreo got loose from the carriage, sending Dundar, 34, of Brooklyn, and the Thompsons, both 32, spilling into the street, the sources and witnesses said.

• Read more, view photos and watch video at www.nydailynews.com (WARNING: images of the horse may be disturbing)