Allison Sylte

KSDK-TV, St. Louis, Mo.

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Three elephants escaped a circus in Missouri on Saturday, roamed the parking lot and damaged multiple cars, police said. No one was injured.

In a statement, the Shrine Circus, from which the elephants escaped in St. Charles, Mo., said handlers were able to occupy the animals, and "they are now resting comfortably in their compound at this time." St. Charles is about 25 miles northwest of St. Louis.

Witnesses said the elephants were spooked by loud noises when they ran off.

"We saw all these people running after them, and they were all screaming 'stop, stop,' and several of the circus people were trying to run alongside them," said Karyn Tunnicliff, who was in a car outside of the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo., with her daughter when it happened.

"(A trainer) yelled 'we need pretzels, anything, just get me some food,' " said Allie Tunnicliff, Karyn's daughter.

The circus was still going on when the elephants escaped, the Tunnicliffs said. The parking lot was almost empty.

The elephants were only out for about 45 minutes.

Two cars were visibly damaged, and authorities couldn't confirm whether additional vehicles or property were involved.