Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr seriously injured during horse training incident

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr suffered severe injuries Tuesday afternoon during a horse training session with his son at their Lacassas farm, county officials reported.

Carr was initially transported to a hospital in Murfreesboro before being transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for further care. He is being treated for nine fractured ribs, a torn liver, and a partially collapsed lung.

Despite the extent of his injuries, Carr remained in good spirits. “This is the first time that I have spent the night in the hospital in 65 years,” he said. “I’m glad it was from doing something I love. RCEMS and the medical teams have been awesome.”

County officials confirmed that both horses involved in the accident are unharmed. No additional information about the mayor’s condition has been released at this time.