A tractor trailer overturned in Utah on Wednesday afternoon, spilling a load of cattle from an overpass onto the highway below.
The accident happened in Riverdale, Utah, just before 12 noon.
According to the Utah Highway Patrol, the truck took the southbound I-15 ramp onto I-84 east, and was traveling at a rate of speed higher than the listed 45 mph limit. While on the I-84 ramp, the load of cattle shifted in the trailer, causing the driver to sway to the right and make contact with the concrete barrier.
The livestock trailer ripped open on impact, sending cows falling off the overpass onto Interstate 15 below.
Numerous cows were killed in the crash, and several onlookers captured images of the motionless bodies lying on the highway. Several surviving cows began to roam Interstate 15, bringing traffic to a halt.
The accident caused a reported 5-mile backup on southbound Interstate 15. In addition, the ramp from I-15 to eastbound I-84 was also closed.
By 5 p.m., all lanes on Interstate 15 and Interstate 84 were reopened. The truck driver was not seriously injured in the incident.
