A holiday light-up ceremony was marred when horses pulling a sleigh were spooked, injuring the driver and forcing the actors portraying Santa and Mrs. Claus to jump to safety.

The incident happened Sunday at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort.

According to The Associated Press, state police said the horses were apparently spooked by band music and bolted, causing a wheeled sleigh they were pulling to crash.

The driver, Ernie Alwine, who is with Misty Haven Carriage of Davidsville, fell under the sleigh and was taken to a hospital for cuts to his face.

Dozens of people were on-hand for the ceremony when the accident happened, and witnesses said Alwine was under the carriage and dragged for about 100 yards.

Several bystanders including Jason Truscott came to Alwine's aid.

"I held him still as possible until other people showed up. A lady showed up who was a nurse, a gentleman who was a doctor showed up as well, so I let them do it and I just lended a helping hand as much as I could by holding him still," Truscott said.

Resort general manager S. Lee Bowden told the Altoona Mirror that the actors portraying the Clauses -- who are not being identified -- "bailed out." The woman dressed as Mrs. Claus reportedly twisted her ankle in the process.

As of Monday, Alwine was reported as being in serious condition at a Pittsburgh hospital.