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A blindfolded giraffe being transported in a trailer has died after it struck its head on a motorway bridge.

Two of the animals could be seen with their heads stuck out of the truck as it travelled along the road in Centurion, South Africa.

But as the vehicle passed under a motorway bridge one of the animals struck its head and later died of brain injuries.

Motorists said they were left reeling in horror and thought the noise was initially a gunshot.

Rick Allan from the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals told EyeWitness News the animal died due to “severe head trauma”.

He said: “We are continuing our investigation with the view to possibly lay criminal charges against those responsible.”

Witness Pabi Moloi tweeted images of the giraffes with the message: “Look how low that bridge is and how tall the giraffes are. Who thought this one through? I wish I hadn’t seen this.”

She later told Mashable: “The sound was so loud that my cousin, who was driving, asked me if there was someone shooting because she thought she'd heard a gunshot.

"That is how loud the impact was from the animal's head smashing into the overhead bridge.”