Sources: Various
Dozens of spectators at a 4th of July parade in the town of Bellevue, Iowa were injured when a team of horses flew out of control when part of the bridle broke and the driver was unable to stop them.
The Steines family had driven their horses in the Bellevue Heritage Parade many times before. As the family, consisting of Mardell Steines who was driving the carriage, his wife Janet and two children, were waiting to start, one of the horses somehow dislodged its bridle, and the horses started trotting down the road.
Mr. Steins and the two children were thrown out of the carriage as the horses picked up speed, passing other parade entries. Then, as bystanders attempted to catch the horses, the animals completely panicked and took off at a full-out gallop. Mrs. Steins was still in the carriage, but was being thrown around violently and was unable to stop them.
After a gap had developed in the parade entries, spectators were shocked when the horses and carriage came flying down the street toward them. Most of the crowd sitting closest to the street were children who were trying to catch candy which was being thrown from some of the floats.
With just fractions of a second to react, some people were able to pull children out of the path, but at least 13 children were among the 23 people hospitalized after they were either trampled by the horses or hit by the carriage. Mrs. Steins was thrown out of the carriage after it hit a road sign. She was taken to the hospital, but eventually died from her injuries.
The horses eventually were separated from the carriage. Reports differed on their condition, but they apparently ran into some parked vehicles and went down.