Cattle Roam Kansas City After Semi-Truck Crash

Early Sunday morning, a semi-truck transporting over 120 cattle crashed in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. This incident resulted in cattle roaming both highways and city streets, prompting authorities to initiate efforts to track them down.

According to Sergeant Phil DiMartino of the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD), officers have been attempting to locate the cows since before 5 a.m. DiMartino noted that several cattle remain unaccounted for following the accident, which involved a cow trailer. He did not provide an exact figure on how many cattle remain loose.

The Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) attended to a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 70 near Admiral Boulevard around 3 a.m., as reported by local station KSHB 41. The crash resulted in one person from each vehicle being taken to the hospital with injuries. A spokesperson for the fire department informed FOX4 Kansas City that the cattle truck fell from a bridge onto another vehicle, resulting in critical injuries. Several cattle perished in the crash, others were trapped inside the trailer, and many managed to escape.

The accident led authorities to shut down the east side of the downtown loop to manage the wreck and search for the runaway animals, according to FOX4 Kansas City. The escaped cattle were reportedly scattered over a three-mile area across the Kansas City metro. Sightings placed them near Crown Center in Kansas City and as far as Kansas City, Kansas.

The crash also led to a diesel spill on the highway, and crews worked to clean it up, reported KSHB 41, citing KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Search Efforts for Escaped Cattle

The KCPD enlisted additional resources to wrangle the cattle, as detailed in local media reports. FOX4 Kansas City noted that authorities employed drones and thermal imaging technology to locate the animals. Firefighters were also observed attempting to herd the cattle near the highway, reported KSHB 41.

Authorities advised drivers to be cautious as crews continued to clear the crash site and search for the remaining cattle. Citizens who spot any stray cattle were requested to contact the KCPD non-emergency line at 816-234-5111 or the KCFD non-emergency line at 816-924-0600.