DALLAS, May 24 (UPI) -- An overturned cattle truck blocked a major Dallas-area highway for nine hours Thursday morning, sending cattle onto the road, a television station reported.
Interstate 35A was shut down when the two-tier truck, carrying 89 head of cattle, flipped over, sending several of the dazed animals onto the highway, KTVT-TV, Dallas/Fort Worth said.
The truck driver said cattle got loose on the upper level of the trailer, causing it to lean. To avoid striking a passing car, he laid the truck on its side, he said, hitting a barrier wall.
Although not injured, he was detained by police. Authorities said he may not have been licensed to drive this type of vehicle, the television station said.
An animal rescue team from the Dallas County Sheriff's Department arrived to corral the cattle, but said about half had to be euthanized because of severe injuries.
The traffic tie-up was further aggravated by morning commuters running out of gas while waiting to traverse the accident scene.
"My gas hand is almost on 'E' and I'm late for work," driver Teka Worthy said. "I saw three cars back there on the side of the freeway with no gas, and I don't want to be the next one."
