MADISON -- Officer David Savage was driving along a quiet country road early Wednesday morning when a dark-colored horse came out of nowhere and crashed into his cruiser, police say.

"The horse ran into the right passenger side door, broke the windshield, broke the side window and ripped the light bar off the roof," said Madison Police Chief Barry Moores.

"The horse is deceased; a veterinarian had to come put it down."

Moores said the horse, which police said belongs to the family of Kim Norris, was one of several loose at 12:57 a.m. on Old County Road. Attempts to locate the family for comment were unsuccessful.

Moores said the cruiser's air bag did not deploy, indicating it was not a front-end crash. Savage was hit by flying glass, but did not suffer serious injuries, the chief said.

The cruiser, a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, is disabled. Estimates for its repair are between $7,500 and $8,900, Moores said.

"And a light bar is about $2,000, so there is $10,000 (of approximate damage)," Moores said.

Moores estimates it will take at least two weeks for the repairs.

Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534, Ext. 341

dpickett@centralmaine.com