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Horseback Rider Killed by Falling Tree in Popular Moscow Park

A 24-year-old horseback rider was killed after being crushed by a tree that was being chopped down in Moscow's popular Sokolniki Park, the Interfax news agency reported Sunday.

Citing an unnamed source in Moscow's emergency services, Interfax reported that workers had failed to seal off the area where they were chopping down trees, causing one of them to fall onto the unsuspecting horseback rider on Friday afternoon. The horse was also killed in the incident, according to the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

Interfax reported that a criminal case had been launched in response to the incident. If convicted of rendering services that did not meet safety standards, suspects in the case could face up to 10 years in prison.

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