Girl, 12, Fatally Crushed by Horse on Family Outing

A young California girl was fatally crushed by a horse this week while out riding with members of her family. According to the Mercury News, police identified the 12-year-old victim as Yolanda Ceja. Yolanda was reportedly on an outing with her family at a Lake View Terrace ranch when the horse she was riding with her 4-year-old little sister reared, tossing the two of them to the ground. The horse then fell onto the girls. They were rushed to a hospital, where Yolanda was pronounced dead Tuesday night. Her little sister was listed in critical condition, likely with a collapsed lung, but is expected to survive, per KABC.

The girls' mother was reportedly guiding the horse when it reared for reasons that were not immediately clear. A heart-wrenching GoFundMe page has been created in a bid to raise money to help the Ceja family in this difficult time. "An angel Yolanda Ceja, was taken from this life she had 12 wonderful years of life and sadly god needed her to go up with him this was unexpected and we ask for your help anything will help," the page reads. "We appreciate every single donation. We will always remember her bright smiling face we know she is in paradise." Los Angeles authorities are investigating the incident. (More horse stories.)