Cattle Truck Overturns Killing Some Livestock

Rescue crews spent hours on Thursday trying to save cattle trapped in an overturned trailer.  A big rig hauling 88 head of cattle overturned on a busy Green Country highway.  It happened along southbound I-244, just northwest of downtown Tulsa.  News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports firefighters were able to save 25 of the animals, but the rest had to be euthanized.

Some of the cattle were critically injured in the crash. 

"I'm just concerned about the heat.  Trying to get them out, the ones that survived.  Getting them to safety so we can get them on some water and stuff, so they'll hopefully make it," said Cheryl Hawks, trucking company owner.

The driver of the truck was on his way from Arkansas to the Texas panhandle when the load shifted on a curve on I-244.

"All of a sudden, they went to one side.  A little bit of wiggle and we were laid down," said truck driver Harold Ridenour.

The accident slowed traffic down to one lane.   Tulsa firefighters worked first to free the trapped animals.  They used saws and axe's to cut and pound and peel away openings into the top of the trailer like a giant can opener.

"It really breaks my heart, but we ship cattle every day and luckily this doesn't happen very often," said Cheryl Hawks, trucking company owner.

Many of the animals were freed and moved out of the hot trailer.  But, many of the animals left in the trailer had broken ribs or legs.  Others showed signs of heat exhaustion.

"They're shook up.  They're probably shaking as bad as I am, if not worse.  And they're stomping each other down in there," said truck driver Harold Ridenour.

Ridenour is worried about the animals, but he's also thankful he was wearing a seatbelt, and that no other drivers were injured.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol doesn't think excessive speed was a factor in the accident.  But, the driver of the truck was cited for operating a motor vehicle in a manner not reasonable and proper.