A 60-year-old woman passenger in a horse-drawn carriage died after a tragic road collision near Uttoxeter.
A 55-year-old man driving the four-wheeled carriage, which was being pulled by one horse, also sustained serious leg injuries.
Police say the "initial collision" took place 500 yards away from where the carriage eventually came to a stop in Hilderstone.
They have now launched a witness appeal to establish exactly what happened. No other vehicle was involved in the accident.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Officers were called to reports of a road traffic collision on the Uttoxeter Road in Hilderstone, near the junction with Jolpool Lane, at around 1.05pm on Sunday, August 5.
"The collision involved a blue, four-wheeled, horse-drawn carriage that was being pulled by a single brown horse in the direction of Stone.
"The carriage finally came to a stop near Heath Farm, approximately 500 yards away from the initial collision.
"The collision resulted in the 55-year-old man driving sustaining serious leg injuries.
"A 60-year-old woman, who was riding as a passenger, was airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital where she died shortly after.
"Specialist officers are supporting the family at this difficult time."
Anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the horse and carriage before 1pm on Sunday should call 101, quoting incident number 477 of August 5.
