TV3 journalist on horse struck by car north of Auckland

Newshub journalist Karen Rutherford has been injured and her horse killed after they were hit by a car. Photo / LinkedIn

Newshub journalist Karen Rutherford was injured and her horse killed after they were struck by a car.

The chief of staff and her teenage daughter were riding their horses along a rural Dairy Flat road when a car crashed into the pair on Sunday, Fairfax reported.

A Mediaworks spokesman said Rutherford was still in hospital, but is recovering.

"We're relieved to hear Karen is on the mend. Our thoughts are with her and her family, and and we wish her a speedy recovery."

Her injuries include a broken leg and concussion after she was thrown into the car's windscreen and rolling into a deep ditch.

Her teenage daughter Ella and her horse were unscathed but Rutherford's horse, George, did not survive.

"I know I'm lucky to be alive after a young, thoughtless driver appeared hellbent on speeding into us," Rutherford posted on Facebook.

"We could see him speeding towards us for 150-200m. He hugged the edge of the white road markings the whole way down the hill towards us ... he never slowed."

Both Rutherford and her 13-year-old daughter were wearing high-visibility vests and riding on the right-hand side of the road, towards oncoming traffic, Fairfax reported.