A motorist (one witness says it was a limo driver) struck a carriage horse this afternoon near Columbus Circle, knocking over the carriage and sending the horse fleeing through the streets. The horse has since been secured, and we'll update as more information becomes available.

An FDNY spokesman tells us the 911 call came in at 4:20 p.m., and one patient has been transported to New York Hospital. The condition of the horse is still unknown.

Update: One witness tells the Times, "after spilling the carriage, the horse continued west with part of the carriage still attached, clipped a livery car, shed the rest of the carriage and fled west on 60th Street."

Update 5:41 p.m.:According to one witness, the horse has been taken away. Its condition is still unknown. DNAinfo reports, "The animal had bloody cuts on its nose. The horse appeared to panic and whinny, then fell on its side, then NYPD personnel led the animal to a truck."

Here's very sad video of the horse after the accident, courtesy NYClass, a group that advocates for a ban on carriage horses:

Carriage Horse Being Restrained After Crash from Gothamist on Vimeo.

, "With the help of a police officer, the passerby led the horse to the sidewalk, Mr. Guarino said. An officer tied the horse to a pole, and the horse was shot with a tranquilizer dart, Mr. Guarino said. The horse slumped to the ground but was able to stand up and get into the police truck that drove it away just before 5 p.m."