OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Drivers using the Florida Turnpike in Osceola County on Tuesday are experiencing slow downs as authorities search for a cow that was let out of a trailer the previous day.
A herd of up to 70 cows were let out of a burning trailer Monday near the Canoe Creek Service Plaza, prompting the closure of the turnpike and leading to a traffic jam of more than 30 miles, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The cab of a tractor-trailer driven by a Samson, Alabama, man caught fire, according to a statement from Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi. He pulled the truck off the northbound highway lanes and opened the cattle trailer to save the cows from the smoke and flames, she said. According to the FHP, the 47-year-old Alabama cattle hauler driver said his semi caught fire, prompting him to pull over. The driver opened the cattle trailer door, allowing the animals to escape smoke and flames, troopers said.
Lanes remained closed as Osceola County law enforcement and state troopers gathered up remaining cattle until lanes were reopened, according to Florida Department of Transportation traffic camera footage. FOX 35 in Orlando livestreamed the shutdown.
Law enforcement diverted southbound traffic to until the last of the cows were caught, Crescenzi said.
Troopers said the driver was not injured and remained at the scene.
“Mounted responders are searching for any loose cattle that may have made their way into the woods,” officials from the Florida Turnpike account tweeted Monday.
Florida is the second largest (by state) cattle producer in the country. Betcha didn't know that, didja?
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ReplyDeleteTrailers need to have their axles serviced yearly. The last part of the pre-trip is a hot brake and hot hub check.
ReplyDeleteNope....not by a long shot. Texas remains the state with the most total cattle, followed by Nebraska, Kansas, California, Oklahoma and Missouri. The greatest change from Jan. 1, 2010 to Jan. 1, 2017 occurred in Alaska (up 18%); Arizona (up 8%) and Missouri, Colorado and North Dakota, which each saw a 6% increase year over year.
ReplyDelete