St. Charles woman killed by out-of-control horse

An out-of-control horse trampled one woman to death, dragged the rider and left another woman in critical condition with multiple head injuries Monday in Kane County.

Kane County sheriff's police said Charlotte Anna VonHarling, 19, of Hamburg, Germany, lost control of a horse she was riding about 4 p.m. Monday in an open field at 9N467 Kendall Road in Plato Township. The horse trampled two of her cousins.

Margaret Goldenstein, 66, of St. Charles, and Renate Anna Saeger, 76, of Switzerland were thrown backward after being struck by the horse, police said. VonHarling was thrown from the horse, but her foot was tangled in the saddle. The horse dragged her about 20 feet.

Goldenstein was pronounced dead at Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. Saeger was taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital and later airlifted to Rockford Memorial Hospital late Monday, police said. VonHarling was discharged Monday evening from Sherman Hospital in Elgin, hospital officials said. The accident happened just two days after an annual Goldenstein family reunion, family members said.

Goldenstein worked as a nurse for many years at Delnor Hospital in Geneva before retiring from that job to care for her parents. Goldenstein loved the farm and animals; she and her sister Katherine cared for many animals as well as caring for their parents, family said.