30 cows dead after crash involving 2 semi-trucks south of Edmonton

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EDMONTON -- Emergency crews and a veterinarian worked to free 104 cows from a wreck Wednesday night, after a semi-truck hauling livestock collided with another semi-truck that was stuck in the ditch.

Thirty cows died in the crash or had to be euthanized on scene, RCMP said.

The other 74 animals were rescued and loaded into another trailer.

The collision happened around 4:30 p.m. and both drivers escaped without injury.

The driver of the ditched truck had been waiting several hours for a tow truck after a blast of snow in the area, an officer said.

“I don’t believe it was foggy at the time of the collision, but of course road conditions were pretty slippery at that time and there was plenty of ice along the highway here,” said RCMP Cst. Steven Leptich.

RCMP originally reported that cows had been ejected, but an officer on scene later told CTV News Edmonton that all animals remained in the livestock trailer.

The trailer tipped in the ditch and had to be uprighted by a tow truck.

Firefighters from Leduc closed Township Road 490 in the area of Range Road 260, directing traffic through thick fog.

CTV News Edmonton was at the roadblock and noted drivers in the area slowing down to 10 km/hr in some spots to navigate the dense fog.

RCMP estimate the road will be reopened by 11 p.m.

RELATED IMAGES 1 / 2 A road block at the scene of two-semi truck collision south of Leduc. Jan. 22, 2020. (CTV News Edmonton) Crews work to get two semis out of the ditch after a crash Wednesday afternoon. Jan. 22, 2020. (CTV News Edmonton)