Funeral horses stampede, overturn hearse

updated 9:49 a.m. ET Feb. 8, 2008

LONDON - A hearse overturned when the horses pulling it to a south London cemetery stampeded, dragging the carriage and coffin past appalled relatives and sending floral tributes flying.

"It was dreadful," a mourner told the South London Press. "The horses dragged the carriage to the cemetery on its side, tossing the coffin all over the place and destroying all the flowers inside.

"Some people got very angry and had to be restrained by other mourners... It is understandable given the circumstances. I'm horrified that something like this could happen."

Police were called to calm angry mourners so that the funeral last month could go ahead.

The carriage appeared to have clipped a mini-roundabout as it entered Lambeth Cemetery for the funeral, the local council which administers the graveyard said on Friday.

More from msnbc.com Reid's plan for getting a health bill passed Joblessness spurs surge in disability claims Cosmic Log: ‘Ardi’ is science’s top 2009 breakthrough Rudolph, the dog, teaches kids lesson Air ambulances leave some with sky-high bills  Gift of giving takes on a whole new meaning Al-Qaida leader’s wife calls women to join jihad Send your holiday pictures to troops

MORE FROM WEIRD NEWS

Weird news Section Front

Boy, 4, caught with beer, wearing dress Teacher on leave for choir's Hooters lunch Bust of Frank Zappa to grace Baltimore library Do you take this man (in monitoring bracelet)? Money robbed from Pa. bank is mailed back Flashing teen found guilty after being hit by car Cops: Woman lay dead in bed for 8 months 99 years overdue, library book returned Teen runs up dad's cell bill to nearly $22,000 Condom contest? NYC seeking wrapper designs Weird news Section Front   Add Weird news headlines to your news reader: