The Organizing Committee of the XXII Horseback Riding between Moita and Viana do Alentejo regretted the “tragic accident” that occurred this Wednesday, with a collision that caused the death of one participant and minor injuries to another, and it was not cancelled.
“The Organizing Committee of the XXII Pilgrimage on Horseback hereby regrets the tragic accident that occurred this morning, on the second stage of the route, in Landeira, which resulted in the death of one participant and caused minor injuries to another”, reads a communicated.
In the note, the organization of the Pilgrimage on Horseback addresses “the most heartfelt condolences to the family” and wishes “all pilgrims a peaceful and safe rest of the pilgrimage”.
A 56-year-old man died and his 28-year-old son suffered minor injuries after they were run over by a cart that was taking part in the Horse Pilgrimage, Civil Protection and GNR sources told Lusa.
“The collision occurred on the Landeira football field, in the municipality of Vendas Novas. According to the information that the GNR military gathered, the horses walked alone with the cart and the two people were run over,” said a GNR source.
Contacted by Lusa, a source from the Central Alentejo Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command explained that the alert for the road accident, involving “one of the Romaria a Cavalo carriages”, was given to the firefighters at 12:28 pm.
A source from the Vendas Novas Fire Department explained to Lusa that the participants of the Horse Riding Pilgrimage, which departed from the town of Moita (Setúbal) on Tuesday, were “in a park with the horses”, on the Landeira football field.
“They were preparing the horses”, but the animals “got scared and they were run over”, said the same source.
Those involved, claimed the fire department source, “were all from the pilgrimage, but they were all stopped doing the logistics and preparation to resume” the route.
The pilgrimage ends in Viana do Alentejo, in the district of Évora, where it is scheduled to arrive on Saturday afternoon, according to the program consulted by Lusa.
This event is a joint organization of the municipal councils of Moita and Viana do Alentejo and the associations of Romeiros da Tradição Moitense and Equestre de Viana do Alentejo.
The traditional Horseback Pilgrimage between Moita and Viana do Alentejo, which is celebrating its 22nd edition this year, began on Tuesday and will run until Sunday, on a route of around 150 kilometers on dirt roads.
