Amazingly, no humans were injured Sunday night when three vehicles collided with cattle on Highway 5, about 7 miles north of Gainesville.
According to the Ozark County Times, because no drivers or passengers were injured, the Missouri State Highway Patrol officer who responded to the incident did not file a report. An Ozark County Sheriffs deputy was also on scene, but the sheriffs report only lists the incident as white 2003 GMC truck vs. cow, no injuries and a two-vehicle traffic stop, no injuries.
First responders and others confirm three vehicles were involved and four head of cattle were hit in the incident that began shortly before 10:00 Sunday evening on Highway 5 near County Road 113.
Based on phone conversations and other reports, it is believed after the GMC truck hit a cow on the highway, emergency personnel arrived, but were unaware other cattle were also on the road.
Next, a southbound Dodge passed the GMC and law enforcement vehicle. Immediately after passing the stopped vehicles, the truck collided with a bull and two cows, apparently knocking one of the cows into an unidentified northbound vehicle in the other lane.
Three of the four animals were killed on impact and the fourth animal, badly injured, was put down by an emergency responder. Two of the vehicles with major damage were towed, while the third vehicle was still drivable.
Missouri Department of Transportation Shed Supervisor Rodney Yost said MoDOT crews removed the cattle carcasses from the roadway and highway shoulders Monday morning.
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