Cow bound for slaughter escapes on New Jersey highway

Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A cow wandering loose in traffic on a New Jersey highway Thursday morning had escaped from a truck on its way to the slaughterhouse.

Police called the Skylands Animal Sanctuary Rescue for help shortly after 2:45 a.m. Thursday, when a cow managed to jump from the second level of a truck traveling on Interstate 80 in Paterson.

Witnesses said the cow, which had been bound for a New Jersey slaughterhouse, started wandering loose in traffic, causing backups.

Mike Stura, founder of the Skylands Animal Sanctuary Rescue, was able to lasso the cow, setting off a 10 minute struggle between the bovine and Stura's crew.

Stura said the cow, now named Brianna, will live out the rest of her days at the sanctuary in Wantage.