Two young children were hurt in a serious accident in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, after the pony-drawn cart they were riding crashed into a tractor-trailer, state police said. The crash happened on Sunday, June 9, around 3:45 p.m. along Route 104 in Washington Township.
According to troopers, the two children were riding in a pony cart on the side of the road when the pony got startled. This caused the cart to move onto the road and directly into the path of a tractor-trailer that was passing by. The large truck could not stop in time and hit the cart.
Both children, aged 10 and 12, were thrown from the cart due to the impact. Police said they suffered injuries but did not share how serious those injuries were. They were taken to the hospital by emergency crews for treatment.
The pony was also hurt in the crash. Police mentioned that the animal had injuries but did not give more details about its condition.
The tractor-trailer driver was not hurt in the incident. He stayed at the scene and cooperated with police during the investigation.
Troopers from the Selinsgrove station responded quickly to the crash and closed off a section of Route 104 while emergency teams treated the children and cleared the area.
Investigators believe the pony may have gotten scared by something near the road, which caused it to bolt into traffic. So far, no charges have been filed, and officials are still reviewing the details to figure out exactly what caused the accident.
This crash has raised concerns about safety on rural roads, especially where horse- or pony-drawn carts are still used in certain communities. Police are reminding drivers to stay alert in areas where these carts might be seen and are also advising families who use them to be extra cautious.
Authorities said the road was reopened later that evening after the cart and debris were removed and the pony was taken for medical attention.
The condition of the children as of Monday morning has not been officially updated. Their names have not been released due to their age.
Police continue to investigate the crash and have asked any witnesses to come forward if they saw what happened.