Car Sideswipes Elephant In Enid

NewsOn6.com

ENID, OK -- Enid Police are investigating a vehicle collision that may land the department in the "car wreck" hall of fame.

They say a couple driving home from church on U.S. 81 Wednesday night sideswiped a bull elephant with their SUV just outside of town.

The elephant had escaped from Family Fun Circus at the Garfield County Fairgrounds.

The elephant suffered a broken tusk, injured leg as well as bumps, bruises and scratches.

The couple wasn't hurt, but the elephant's tusk tore a hole in the sheet metal of the SUV.

Captain Dean Grassino with the Enid Police Department said circus hands were taking down some tents and either the flap on the tent or the spotlight they were using spooked the elephant and it ran onto the roadway. 

One of the people who called 911 to report the accident seemed to expect to have difficulty in convincing the dispatcher that an exotic animal was involved.

Caller:  "Ma'am, listen to me."

Dispatcher:  "Yes?"

Caller:  "A man's looking for an elephant."

Dispatcher:  "He's looking for an elephant?"

Caller:  "Yes, from the circus."

But the the dispatcher did believe him and immediately started notifying first responders.

Listen to first 911 call to Enid Police
Listen to second 911 call to Enid Police

After the crash, the elephant was loaded onto a semi-truck and taken to a veterinary school for an exam.  Dr. Dwight Olson said the elephant doesn't appear to have serious injuries. 

The Associated Press contributed to this story.