A Christmas carriage ride in downtown Lake Charles takes a tragic turn Monday night when a driver plows into the carriage. Lake Charles Police Lieutenant Jeffrey Keenum says people were on board at the time, and at least two people were hospitalized.
“Hopefully, their injuries are not too terribly serious and, hopefully, they’ll be able to get out of the hospital and get home quickly to their families for this wonderful holiday season,” Keenum said.
49-year-old Monica Guillory of Lake Charles is charged with hit-and-run, driving with a suspended license and driving with no insurance. Lieutenant Keenum says the crash put a damper on what was supposed to be a festive mood downtown.
“It’s just a great time for your family and friends and loved ones to go and enjoy the cooler weather, hopefully, and enjoy some of the Christmas festivities. And it’s just unfortunate this person, for whatever reason, ran into the back of the horse carriage,” Keenum said.
As for the horse, Keenum says the horse is fine.
“The horse was able to disengage, by whatever means, and I saw the horse trotting down the roadway. Fortunately, it was able to be reined in a short time later and did not sustain any injuries that we are aware of,” Keenum noted.
