Midnight Mayhem As Rider Falls From Horse While Trying To Stunt Ride Before Animal Takes Off, Is Hit By Car In Uptown Charlotte

Late night scenes in Charlotte have taken a bizarre turn after viral videos captured horseback riders trotting through busy city streets, ending in a shocking crash that left onlookers stunned.

Footage filmed around 11:45 p.m. on April 3 shows two men riding horses along East 7th Street in Uptown, drawing attention as they weaved through the area like it was the Wild West.

But the spectacle quickly turned dangerous.

One of the riders appeared to attempt a stunt, standing up on the moving horse before losing his balance and crashing to the ground. The spooked animal then bolted forward, running loose through the streets without a rider.

Moments later, at the intersection of North College Street, the runaway horse was struck by a passing vehicle, in a collision that witnesses say unfolded in seconds.

Ja’Queria Lynch, who was out with friends at the time, said the scene was as surreal as it was alarming.

Her immediate concern, she said, was for the animal.

She recalled seeing the horse roll over the vehicle on impact, a moment that left bystanders shaken as police rushed to the scene shortly after.

According to Lynch, the riders had been attempting tricks before things spiraled, suggesting the fall may have been the result of someone trying to show off.

Despite the dramatic crash, there was some relief.

A woman believed to be with the riders later responded to Lynch’s social media post, claiming the horse was not seriously injured. A second video taken shortly after the incident appears to show the animal back on its feet.

City officials say that while riding horses within Charlotte is technically legal, North Carolina law treats them as a form of transportation, there are strict rules about how they can be handled.

Riding in a reckless or careless manner through public streets is prohibited, and allowing a loose animal to roam onto roadways is also against local ordinances.

The aftermath of the crash only added to the disorder.

Another video shows the two riders involved in a heated confrontation shortly after the collision, with tempers flaring in the middle of the street.

According to a report from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, both men became highly agitated, shouting and resisting officers as they were taken into custody.

While their identities have not been released, both were reportedly charged with disorderly conduct.