One elephant has been killed and others roamed loose after a circus truck carrying them overturned on a Spanish motorway.

The truck, carrying five of the animals, was overtaking another vehicle when it suddenly "rolled over", according to authorities.

Two were injured and another one died on the side of the road.

Image: Several elephants wandered up and down the A30 motorway. Pic: Albacete Police

It had rolled off the tarmac, past a mangled barrier and into a ditch.

Shocked drivers rushed to the animal's aid but were unable to save it.


Image: The truck belonged to a circus. Pic: Albacete Police

Other elephants were pictured standing nearby, with large cuts to their faces, legs and hinds.

Some wandered around a stretch of the A30 motorway in Pozo Cañada near Murcia, southwest Spain.

Image: The animals had to be lifted into a rescue vehicle by crane. Pic: Gregorio Serrano

The road was closed to traffic for two hours.

Animals were put into harnesses and loaded on to another truck to be taken away.