Dozens of steers managed to break loose on a Texas highway after a latch on the trailer transporting them came loose.
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According to a report by Click2Houston, the animals were at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo earlier on Monday. They were heading back to Bonham, Texas. Authorities reported a 'major incident' at 11:29 am when the latch on the trailer door came loose, setting its 31 occupants free.
The escapees took to the tarmac on the I-45 North Freeway near the Montgomery County line, forcing the Harris County Sheriff's Office to close several lanes of traffic. The driver miraculously controlled most of the cattle, but six steers managed to run rampant. It took four hours to get all the livestock back in the trailer, but not before a few of them went on a real adventure.
A Wrangler Explains The Incident On The Highway Could Have Been Worse
According to a report by ABC13, a wrangler named Sam Grey helped retrieve the cattle. "It could have been a whole lot worse," he explained. "The good thing is that steers find shelter. They try to find a hideaway. The majority of them we found were in woodland areas." Grey also joked that the helicopters and news reporters made his job more difficult. "There was no room for error at all," Grey said. "Y'know, especially when you're knowing there's going to be choppers up in the roof! My biggest deal was making sure I didn't miss.
One eyewitness told ABC13, "That's some Texas ****! What do you mean there are cows on the highway?"
It's worth noting that there are conflicting reports about the damage caused by the steer. Some outlets report that one steer was hit by a vehicle, causing it to flip over. However, others say that officials believe there were no car-related accidents.
Officials are reportedly investigating potential charges for the trailer driver, according to Click2Houston. It remains unclear if the operators properly shut the trailer door before the vehicle left the Rodeo.
Harris County Sherriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted at 2:19 in the afternoon that all cattle were secured and accounted for.
