Cows break out of truck, foil all attempts at capture

Canadian Press

Tuesday, December 10, 2002

COVINGTON, Ga. (AP) - Police Lt. Philip Bradford said it's the oddest call he's been on in his 17-year career.

Four cows remain on the run after escaping Sunday from a stalled tractor-trailer on Interstate 20. Bradford said the animals broke free when the floor board of a trailer carrying 59 cows snapped.

"I must have missed the day they taught how to catch loose cows in police academy," Bradford said. "I guess we have to write a new page."

Police said the bovines caused a minor fender bender and several other close calls before officers shut down a section of I-20. Horseback riders from a nearby rodeo even tried to rope the animals.

The cows jumped through an opening in a guardrail onto a grassy embankment. Police called off the search after nearly five hours.

Johnny Jarel, the driver of the tractor-trailer, was charged for operating a "junky" vehicle, police said.

The cows were last seen headed for Atlanta.

© Copyright 2002 The Canadian Press


who knew cows were so tricky?