10 Cows Killed When Truck Overturns On I-285; 2 Remain At Large

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Ten cows were killed and two remain unaccounted for after a Monday morning tractor trailer accident dumped scores of the cattle on Interstate 285 at Interstate in Cobb County.

Cobb police said the truck carrying a livestock trailer overturned while trying to exit from I-285 eastbound onto northbound I-75, spokesperson Sgt. Wayne Delk said. The trailer was loaded with 89 cows, many of which escaped from the trailer and ran loose on the interstate and surrounding areas after the accident.

Several of the cows that were dumped onto the roadway made it to the New Northside Drive and Powers Ferry Road area in Sandy Springs, said police spokesperson Sgt. Sam Worsham. SSPD officers worked with Cobb County police to round up the cattle so they can be transported to a facility in Calhoun. As of Monday afternoon, 87 cows — including the 10 dead ones — have been accounted for and two are still missing.

"It is possible the missing cows could be in the area of Sandy Springs where some of the cows managed to roam before being captured earlier today," Sgt. Delk said. "Thanks to Sandy Springs Police for their assistance."

The driver of the truck that overturned was injured in the crash, as was another motorists who struck one of the cows that got free on the interstate, Sgt. Delk told Patch.

Monday's incident is the third report this year of cattle getting loose on Georgia's interstates following crashes. The biggest accident occurred in May when 10 cows were killed after a tractor trailer traveling on the southbound side near Wade Green Road on I-75 near Kennesaw drifted off to the right side of the roadway, overcorrected and collided with an attenuation barrier, Cobb police previously said.

In June, three cows were also killed when a tractor-trailer carrying 36 of the cattle overturned on the Interstate 285 ramp onto Interstate 20 eastbound in DeKalb County.

Return to Patch for updates.

Images via Georgia 511