Semi-trucks, car involved in two separate cow crashes Monday night

A vehicle rolled over on I-80 after a cow-vehicle collision. Photo: North Summit Fire District

COALVILLE, Utah — Emergency services responded to two separate vehicle-cow collisions on I-80 near Coalville Monday evening just after 8 p.m., according to Utah Highway Patrol.

The first incident involved a semi-truck that swiped a cow, killing the animal and disabling the truck, though the driver suffered no injuries.

Shortly after, another incident involving a cow and a semi-truck resulted in a vehicle rollover. UHP stated that they are still investigating whether the car hit the cow and rolled or if it got hit by the semi-truck and rolled. However, the three occupants of the car that rolled, a mother and two children, were transported with moderate injuries.

It was originally reported that two individuals in the car that rolled were ejected, but UHP confirmed that no individuals were ejected.

The crashes closed all lanes of the freeway for about an hour Monday evening.

Avoiding animal-vehicle collisions

Animal-vehicle collisions cause an estimated 1 to 2 million incidents involving large animals occurring annually, according to DriveSafeOnline.org. These accidents lead to approximately 200 human fatalities and 26,000 injuries each year.

Collisions are most likely to happen during dawn and dusk when visibility is low. An impact with a large animal, or swerving to avoid an impact, can cause significant damage or injury.

Speed plays a big role in avoiding animal collisions. UHP recommends not driving faster than your headlights will allow you to react, especially in rural areas where there may be cattle or wildlife on the road. If an animal suddenly appears, brake firmly and stay in your lane.

If you do hit an animal, you should attempt to pull over to the side of the road to assess damage and injuries, and call emergency services if someone in your vehicle is injured or if the impact caused a block on the road.