On Tuesday, April, 26, 2016, three cows fell out of a trailer on northbound Highway 99 south of Briggsmore Avenue, in Modesto, California. This jammed traffic and prompted a police pursuit of one of the cows.
Two Jersey cows and a Holstein escaped. Merced Sun-Star reported that he Jersey cows headed north and got off the highway, crossed the overpass, and amazingly wound up at the agriculture department of the Modesto Junior College West Campus. They were then seized by agriculture interns.
The Holstein cow continued south in the northbound lanes. Over a dozen officers and animal control tried to corral it. Eventually, the cow was cornered against a fence that separates Highway 99 from Graphics Drive between Woodland and Kansas avenues.
The Holstein cow was cornered against a chain link fence.
The lassoed cow had minor cuts but was not badly injured. The agriculture interns arrived with a trailer, and along with officers, managed to get the cow safety into the trailer.
After the cows’ owner realized they were missing, he returned to the area to help but his trailer apparently got stuck near Woodland Avenue. An officer inspected the trailer and vehicle to see if any violations were committed.
Highway signs advised drivers to drive cautiously through the area.