Girl, 12, dies after horse falls on her in California; 4-year-old injured

LOS ANGELES -- A 12-year-old girl died and a 4-year-old child was injured after a horse fell on them in Los Angeles.

Authorities said the incident happened shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday. The two kids were riding the horse when, for an unknown reason, it reared.

The children fell off the horse after it reared and then it toppled on top of them.

The girl was found not breathing and taken to the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in grave condition, authorities said. She was later pronounced dead.

The other child suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. A watch commander with the LAPD Foothill division said emergency personnel were considering surgery because the child may have had a collapsed lung.

It was unclear what caused the horse to get scared.

The investigation is ongoing.