A giraffe has been killed after smashing its head on a bridge while being transported dangerously on a highway in South Africa, wildlife officials said Thursday. Several horrified witnesses tweeted pictures of the open-air truck carrying two giraffes with their necks jutting high out of the vehicle. "Look how low that bridge is and how tall the giraffes are," tweeted Pabi Moloi. "Who thought this one through? I wish I hadn't seen this." Rick Allan, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, confirmed the pictures and the animal's death to NBC News: "The way that these giraffes were being transported was incorrect and not up to standards.

"Their heads were above the vehicle which meant that one of them cracked their head on the bridge. That's something we are very concerned about and we will be looking at a prosecution under animal cruelty legislation." He said early indications showed the animal died instantly. Many people have pointed out the incident had echoes of a scene in The Hangover Part III, where a giraffe dies in a similar way.

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@ewnreporter Truck with 2 giraffe just passed underneath Garsfontein rd on N1. 1 giraffe hit it's head on the bridge. pic.twitter.com/Bb3Jac3ew3 -Thinus Botha (@thinusb_) July 31, 2014

Look how low that bridge is and how tall the giraffes are. Who thought this one through? I wish I hadn't seen this. pic.twitter.com/as2jJkIwpv — Pabi Moloi (@PabiMoloi) July 31, 2014

— Alexander Smith