Girl dies after being trampled by horse in south Houston

Four-year-old Samantha Sillero loved riding horses with her parents, and she never had any problems with the animals until the fatal accident over the weekend at a rodeo event, family members said Monday. Samantha died after being trampled by a horse. The accident happened at a rodeo arena in the 13700 block of Karalis in south Houston around 10:35 p.m. Sunday, police said. Samantha and her mother, Mary Sillero, were riding their family's horse in the parking lot when the animal became ill and began acting out of control, said the girl's cousin, 22-year-old Maria Sillero. She said family members told her that the horse began banging its head against a car and threw both riders, then stepped on the girl's head. The girl's father, Sergio Sillero, who had gone to the stables to return a horse, arrived just as the accident happened, Maria Sillero said. The mother and daughter were rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where Samantha was pronounced dead about 11:15 p.m. Mary Sillero, who suffered bruises, was released Monday morning...more

An earlier ABC report said the horse was a 7 year old stud.