Four People Injured When Vehicles Hit Cows on Freeway

Five cows wandered onto the Golden State Freeway in Castaic on Friday night and were struck and killed by two vehicles in collisions that injured four people and tied up traffic for more than two hours, authorities said.

A pickup truck traveling southbound on the freeway shortly before midnight struck at least one of the animals and crashed through the guardrail, tumbling down a 200-foot embankment, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Mike Carrick said.

The driver of the truck, Derrick Ward, 33, of Pacifica, and a passenger, Joseph Roque, 46, of San Francisco, were taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Santa Clarita. Roque had two broken legs and head and chest injuries and was in satisfactory condition Saturday. Ward was admitted for observation for a possible bruised heart, a hospital spokesman said.

A car also struck the cattle, and two occupants were treated for minor injuries, authorities said.

While the road was being cleared, traffic backed up on the southbound lanes for two to three miles, Carrick said. At one point, only one lane was open while Caltrans and county animal control workers removed the five dead cows. All lanes were reopened shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday.

“In that particular area there are a number of cattle that are fenced in the range,” Carrick said. “Apparently they escaped.”

Carrick said injuries from the accident could have been much worse. “I’ve seen people get killed in a similar incident,” he said.