EXCLUSIVE: Car crashes through barricades, hits horse and rider during Christmas parade

SPANISH FORK, Utah — A horse and its rider are recovering after getting hit by a car during a Christmas parade.

Spanish Fork police arrested a driver on suspicion of driving under the influence. They said the person drove into a blocked-off intersection, then struck a horse and its rider at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Steve Adams, president of the Diamond Fork Riding Club, was in the Spanish Fork Winter Lights Parade behind a group of 20 riders on horses walking southbound. He said he knew something was wrong when he saw police heading north with only their lights on.

“Had they come in with blaring sirens, that could’ve been another incident happening,” he said. “They were smart.”

Adams said the red car was going 30-35 mph when it passed him.

“I felt like someone, or something was going to die,” he said. “One of our horses is going to die, one of our guys is going to die.”

Adams said he saw the brake lights, but it was too late.

“He slid right into the back of the horse,” he said. “The rider came off and then fell in front of the car.”

The rider was Trent Anderson. He was on his 27-year-old horse, Duncan.

“By the time I realized what was going on, we were rolling off the car and onto the asphalt,” Anderson recalled.

He said he remembered hearing the crash and Duncan struggling in the street.

“The sparks coming off of her feet, I’m grateful that she was able to slide and she’s OK,” Anderson said. “We’re both sore today.”

Spanish Fork police say a car crashed through barricades and drove through the Christmas parade route last night. It ended up hitting a horse and its rider.

Hear from him and a witness at 4 today only on @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/fMRPalXuO2

— Shelby Lofton (@newswithShelby) November 27, 2022

Anderson and Duncan have minor injuries. EMS workers on the scene treated him, and Duncan was able to walk the rest of the parade route.

Adams said police quickly arrested the driver.

“I put my truck in park and ran over, and as I was getting there, the officers who were northbound already got to the driver’s door,” Adams explained.

Adams and Anderson said they’re grateful others weren’t injured.

“There’s so many small kids that were out on the street that night that could’ve been hurt,” Anderson said.

He said he and Duncan are expected to make a full recovery.

“This won’t slow us down at all,” Anderson said. “As soon as I’m feeling better and she’s feeling better, we’ll be back at it.”