Horse bolts in Valletta damaging cars, injuring driver

The driver of a horse-drawn cab, Fabian Mifsud, 19, of Msida, was slightly injured when the animal bolted near the Upper Barrakka Gardens, at Castille Place, Valletta, yesterday afternoon.

Mr Mifsud was thrown off the cab as it toppled to one side but still managed to hold on to the cab in an effort to restrain the horse. A Peugeot 106, owned by a policeman, and a Honda, belonging to the Emigrants' Commission, were damaged when they were hit by the horse and the cab.

Mr Mifsud was heard saying after the incident that, apparently, the horse was frightened when a truck drove by. It was at that point the horse dashed through the metal bollards barring access to cars and ran down St Ursula Street dragging the overturned cab with the driver holding on to it. However, as the horse tackled the bend, Mr Mifsud was flung against the wall.

The drama came to a close when the horse collapsed, exhausted. The horse was later seen being led away, bruised but apparently showing no sign of serious injury.