A semitractor-trailer carrying 120 to 130 cattle overturned on a Kansas City highway overpass early Sunday, spilling dozens of animals onto city streets and killing 45 to 60 cows, authorities confirmed. The crash occurred just before 3 a.m. on westbound I-70 near the SB I-35 curve, forcing road closures and triggering a multi-hour search for surviving cattle.
All animals have now been accounted for, according to Kansas City Police Sgt. Phil DiMartino. The driver of the truck and the driver of a vehicle struck by the trailer sustained minor injuries and were treated at local hospitals. The accident disrupted traffic ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs' NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers, though authorities reported no major disruptions due to prior publicity about the incident.
Emergency responders, including Kansas City Fire Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins, described the scene as chaotic. Dozens of cattle fled the crash site, leading to additional collisions and public calls to police. Some animals wandered several miles before being recaptured. Authorities deployed drones to track the cattle, while a private company and the trucking firm coordinated a roundup effort using workers on horseback. Recovering deceased animals proved particularly challenging, Hopkins noted.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reported the overpass sustained damage but did not specify the extent. No timeline for repairs or road reopenings was immediately provided. The trucking company and local authorities have not commented on the cause of the crash, which remains under investigation.