An animal trailer overturned on the 210 Freeway in Sylmar on Wednesday, leaving several farm animals on the side of the interstate and prompting the California Highway Patrol to close multiple lanes.

The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. on the westbound 210 at Hubbard Street, according to the CHP’s online traffic incident log.

Animal control officers were sent to the scene, CHP Officer Jennifer Cassidy said.

Three sheep, two pregnant cows and a dog were in the 30-foot trailer, David Ortiz of the Los Angeles Fire Department told KTLA.


News video showed the pickup truck that was towing the trailer had gone up the side of an embankment.

Forty city firefighters were on scene, along with two ambulances, Ortiz said. They worked to hoist the cows out of the overturned vehicle.

It appeared the driver lost control when tread separated on one of truck’s tires, and the vehicle went up the embankment, a CHP officer on scene said.

The driver was hospitalized in serious condition, Ortiz said.


The freeway’s Hubbard Street entrance ramp was shut down, and all lanes were temporarily closed while the livestock were offloaded. A SigAlert was issued at 12:15 p.m.