Drama in Ascot as horses bolt down high street and carriage crashes into shop

There was drama in Ascot High Street on Thursday evening when a horse-drawn carriage leaving the racecourse crashed into a shop window after the horses had bolted.

One eyewitness told the Racing Post: “It was carnage. The lead horses careered down the road and it looked like people were going to get run over, but everyone was alive to the situation and managed to get out the way.”

A senior policeman at the scene said on Friday: "It was a miracle no-one was killed."

Another bystander added that one of the horses flipped over while the other ran into the window. One person suffered minor injuries, while one of the horses was taken away in a veterinary trailer. The other horses were believed to be uninjured.

Gary Copeland, who had been driving behind the carriage before the incident took place, said to the BBC: "Suddenly I saw the horses start to bolt and pulling down the High Street very, very quickly – out of control.

"At the roundabout one of the horses flipped over and landed on the floor. The carriage carried straight on on to the pavement.

"I could see one of the horses jammed into the window of the dress shop. I saw people on the floor – they may have been thrown off the carriage."

The owners of the shop, Nataliya Couture, confirmed that the shop was closed at the time and that nobody was inside. No-one from Nataliya Couture was available for comment on Friday.

It has been reported that the horses involved suffered only cuts and abrasions and are expected to make a full recovery.

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