CHINA GROVE — Two people are injured after a vehicle struck a man riding a horse on Old Beatty Ford Road on Sunday afternoon.
Justin Webb, 26, of Running Brook Drive in Kannapolis, was riding the horse and was critically injured, according to emergency scanner communications.
The driver of the vehicle, Raney Troutman, 87, of Mount Moriah Church Road in Landis, suffered minor injuries.
Webb’s wife, Kim, said the couple and their two children were riding together around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, on the westbound shoulder of Old Beatty Ford Road near Lentz Road. Something spooked the animals, and Webb’s horse ran into the center of the road as a Ford pickup approached traveling east.
“Justin waved his arms trying to get him to stop,” she said. “He was coming up pretty fast.”
Webb could not regain control, and Troutman was not able to stop the pickup in time to avoid a collision, said Trooper A. Carpenter with the N.C. Highway Patrol.
The horse, named “Titan,” died in the crash.
“He didn’t come too far from hitting my daughter,” Kim Webb said.
Justin Webb was flown to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. His condition was not available from the hospital Sunday night.
Troutman, who was talking and alert at the scene, was treated at Carolinas Medical Center Northeast in Concord and released.
Carpenter said no charges have been filed.