A runaway horse startled motorists when it leapt onto the hood of a moving car, causing an accident at a busy intersection.

The incident occurred at the junction of Bolshaya and Demyan Bedny streets in the city of Khabarovsk, Russia on Monday, 5th May.

The horse, an Orlov trotter named Zaklivatel, escaped from its owner's farmstead and ran loose through the streets without a rider.

Witnesses reported the frightened animal narrowly avoided being hit by a car before jumping onto the hood of a vehicle, resulting in damage.

Local residents alerted the police upon seeing the riderless horse on the roadway.

Officers from the State Traffic Inspectorate quickly identified the owner as a 50-year-old man from Primorsky Krai.

The owner explained that due to his oversight, the horse had left the farmstead on its own.

Authorities issued an administrative protocol against the man for violating traffic rules applicable to pedestrians or other participants in the traffic process, under Part 2 of Article 12.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

The violation carries a fine of RUB 800 (GBP 6.80).

The escaped horse was eventually caught and returned to its owner.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)