FIVE elephants caused chaos when the circus lorry they were travelling in turned over and they were set free on a Spanish motorway.

One of the elephants died and two were injured in the crash, which closed the A30 in Pozo Canada near Albacete south east of Madrid on Monday afternoon.

7 A herd elephants loose on a motorway south of Madrid yesterday Credit: Solarpix

Motorists filmed the animals strolling towards waste ground and feeding by the side of the road.

The dead animal was removed from a ditch by the side of the motorway where its body ended up following the drama around 4pm yesterday afternoon.

Police released pictures of the elephants appearing to feed on grass by crash barriers before being led to a safer area.

They revealed: “The A30 has been closed because a lorry has overturned. Elephants are loose on the tarmac."

7 Elephants began feeding on grass following the pile-up Credit: EPA

7 Two of the elephants were injured and one died Credit: Solarpix

They continued: “The motorway has been closed around the Pozo Canada area heading towards Murcia.”

Spain’s Road Safety Authority the DGT confirmed one of the elephants had died.

Four other animals, who like the lorry driver escaped with their lives, were travelling in the truck.

7 One of the elephants being assisted off the motorway Credit: Solarpix

DGT spokesman Gregorio Serrano said: “The elephants injured in the accident that has happened in Albacete are being assisted and removed.

“Of the five animals one has died and two have been injured. Shortly the A30 will be reopened.”

One stunned motorist, who filmed the animals wandering around on the tarmac seconds after the accident, said in a running commentary over his home-made video: “Accident on the A30 motorway near Albacete.

“A circus lorry has overturned. Four elephants are loose and one looks in a very bad way. I’m not sure if it’s dead or not.

7 The animals at the side of the motorway Credit: Solarpix

7 An elephant is lifted on to a truck by a crane Credit: Solarpix

7 Emergency services attended the scene and the motorway was closed Credit: EPA

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Silvia Barquero, the president of Spanish animal welfare political party PACMA, said the animals belonged to the Gottani Circus, which has performed several shows in the area over Easter.

She tweeted: “The lorry that has overturned was carrying Circo Gottani elephants. Show them more kindness. We treat animals like slaves. Enough of circuses that use animals.”

There was no immediate response from the circus owners.

The accident is believed to have happened after the HGV they were in overtook another vehicle and the driver lost control as he headed back into the slow lane.

Civil Guard officers will now send a report on the accident to a local investigating judge who will be tasked with a routine probe into the incident.

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