Shortly after midnight Friday morning, emergency crews responded to a crash involving a semi-truck hauling cattle near the Winona Road interchange on Interstate 40 east of Flagstaff.
According to radio traffic, the semi went through a guardrail on the on-ramp near milepost 211, causing cattle to escape from the trailer and roam through the surrounding area.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office deputies spent much of the night working to locate and round up the loose animals. Several cattle were reportedly wandering around the Winona Shell parking lot and other areas near the interchange.
The driver reportedly told authorities there were approximately 30 head of cattle being transported. It is not yet known how many survived the crash. Deputies also assisted with dispatching cattle that were too severely injured to be saved.
Walking Cane Ranch responded to the scene and assisted authorities with handling and recovering the livestock.
No information has been released regarding injuries to the driver or what caused the semi to leave the roadway.
Flagscanner will provide additional information if it becomes available.
