them from death in a freak accident.

A crazed horse leapt on their car, smashing the windscreen and crushing the roof.

But the couple were unharmed apart from a cut on Mrs. Pearson's finger.

The horse, which had broken free from a tourist buggy, went on a frenzied gallop through city streets. It needed more than 100 stitches after the accident.

And the couple's Mitsubishi Lancer car is a write-off.

The horse was pulling the carriage on Dundonald Street, near Once Upon a Table restaurant, when it is believed it was in a collision with a motorcycle. The horse broke free from the buggy and bolted along the street, colliding with an unmarked Police car.

It galloped onto Front Street, where Mr. Pearson was driving home.

It was about 10.

30 p.m. on Thursday, and the couple had been for dinner at Once Upon a Table.

They had even seen the horse outside the restaurant, before it was startled.

"This time it greeted us with open arms -- or hooves,'' said Mr. Pearson yesterday.

"We were outside Scandals and from a distance I saw the horse come galloping towards us.

"I thought it had a carriage behind it, but it didn't.

"As it got closer and closer I asked my wife when it was going to swerve away.

"But it just kept coming. It was probably coming towards my lights or something.

"When it got to me it realised it was a car.

"It attempted to jump over the car, and I put my hand up and just closed my eyes.

"As it jumped it came right through my window -- half its body came through.'' Mrs. Pearson quickly escaped from the car. But her husband, who suffers from claustrophobia, had to struggle from the wreckage and roll out of the vehicle.

"How we didn't get killed we don't know,'' he said. "When I saw the damage to the car I couldn't believe I had survived.

"We're Christian folks and believe in God,'' said the 54-year-old building contractor. "This makes us believe in Him even more.'' Carriage operator Mr. Noel Jones said the horse, named Red, seemed to be recovering.

"I don't think it's anything really serious that will mean we'll have to put him down. He looks pretty good.'' He was waiting to speak to carriage driver Mr. Michael Roberts to find out what startled the horse.

It is believed Mr. Roberts fell from the carriage and suffered a dislocated ankle.

IT'S A MIRACLE -- Mr. Philip Pearson and his wife Yvonne marvel at their incredible escape after a panicked horse jumped on their car.