The American Village chief financial officer had to be airlifted to a hospital after a tragic horse accident during the American Village Independence Day celebration July 4.

According to witness Catherine Cousins, Pete Walker, who was portraying Paul Revere, was getting ready to re-enact Revere’s famous ride across Old North Bridge to warn colonists of the British’s arrivals during the Revolutionary War when the accident occurred.

Cousins said when Walker rode onto the bridge, he made a sharp turn at a fast speed and the horse he was riding on fell. Cousins could not tell if the horse fell on Walker.

“The horse tried to get up, and fell back two or three times … then finally got up and ran across the bridge,” Cousins said in an e-mail. “One of the re-enactors caught the horse as he crossed the bridge. After a few minutes, the horse fell, gasped for air a few times, and died.”

Walker was airlifted to UAB Hospital. His vitals were good as he was being airlifted, Cousins said.

Attempts to reach American Village officials July 5 were unsuccessful.