Traffic on Interstate 70 ground to a halt near Oak Grove, Missouri, on Wednesday after a crash involving tractor-trailer rigs sent more than a dozen cattle onto the highway and surrounding area.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local media reports, two tractor-trailers collided in the westbound lanes near the Oak Grove exit, around mile marker 28.4. One of the trucks was hauling cattle, and the impact of the crash damaged the trailer enough that several animals broke free.
Both eastbound and westbound lanes of I-70 were shut down late Wednesday morning while troopers, transportation crews, and tow operators worked the scene. MoDOT traffic cameras showed debris scattered across the roadway as crews responded. Authorities reported that, fortunately, the drivers of the trucks were not injured.
The interstate closure lasted several hours. Eastbound lanes reopened first, followed by westbound traffic once the wreckage was cleared and it was safe to resume travel. Even after the interstate was back open, though, the situation was far from routine: MSHP said 13 cattle were still unaccounted for as of early afternoon.
Local agencies and cowboys were brought in to help track down and corral the animals. At least one cow was seen resting in the median before being roped and brought under control, and aerial footage from a news helicopter showed responders scanning nearby fields and ditches for other loose cattle.
Authorities are urging people in the Oak Grove area to be cautious. Anyone who spots the animals is asked to call 911 and not attempt to approach or capture them. Loose livestock can be unpredictable and dangerous, especially when stressed or frightened after a crash.
By late afternoon, the highway was moving again, but the search for the remaining cattle was still active as local law enforcement, transportation officials, and ranching crews worked to make the area safe for both drivers and residents.
