LEWISTON — Maine State Police troopers were called to a crash at Exit 79 on the Turnpike Monday after a pickup truck hauling a cattle trailer lost some of its live cargo when the rear doors became unlatched.
The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. when the southbound truck’s improperly secured trailer doors opened, causing the cattle inside to shift and three animals to fall onto the roadway.
One cow suffered a broken leg after landing in the passing lane, while two others sustained road rash and were found on the road shoulder.
A fourth cow escaped into the nearby woods.
Troopers managed to secure one of the cows by tying it to the back of a cruiser and used a buddy system to calm and prevent the other animals from moving.
Traffic was affected as one lane was temporarily closed while the driver, Dustin Bubar, 39, of Stetson, attempted to reload the cattle.
Bubar was cited for an unsecured load on a vehicle.
Lewiston Police Department’s Animal Control Officers provided assistance, along with several passersby.
The crash is still under investigation.
