Early Friday morning, a loose cow on Highway 287 sent an Iowa Park man to the hospital. According to KFDX News Channel Three, the incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. near the Huntington Lane exit. A husband and wife from Iowa Park were driving home in separate cars when the first vehicle struck a cow that was standing in the middle of the roadway. The husband was in the first car, and he was injured in the collision. The wife’s car also ran over what was left of the animal in the roadway.
Iowa Park Man Injured in Crash With Livestock
Thankfully, the wife was able to walk away from the crash. The husband was transported to the hospital for treatment of a broken arm. There has been no word on his current condition or if any local ranchers have been cited or contacted about the loose cow. At this time, no information has been released on how or why the cow was in the middle of Highway 287. There haven’t been any details on who owned the cow or how it came to be standing in the middle of the road early Friday morning.
The Dangers of Livestock in the Roadway
There’s no question that a cow or any other type of livestock in the roadway creates a hazardous and dangerous situation for drivers. In many cases, the owner of the cow can be held liable for the damages to cars and for the injuries to the occupants of the car. A full-grown cow can weigh anywhere between 1,500 and 2,500 pounds. Even at relatively slow speeds, a collision involving a large farm animal can have devastating consequences. These farm animals are much larger than deer, and deer-related crashes are responsible for about 200 deaths and about 10,000 personal injuries each year.
What to do After an Accident Involving Livestock
Farm animals running loose pose a serious danger to motorists on Texas roadways. Injuries and property damage associated with these types of collisions can be extensive and costly. If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a collision involving cows, farm animals or any other type of livestock in Wichita Falls or in any of the surrounding Texoma communities, contact the skilled team at the Altman Legal Group at (940) 761-4000 for a free case consultation today.