Cattle trailer overturns on Highway 95

A cattle trailer overturned about three miles north of Athol on Thursday afternoon, killing four bovines and forcing police to “put down” four more, according to an Idaho State Police report.

Hugh D. Vang – of Nanton, Alberta, Canada – was driving a cattle truck southbound on Highway 95 when he swerved to avoid another vehicle, the report states. The cattle shifted their weight, and the trailer flipped over the guardrail.

Vang, 61, was not wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries. He was treated and released from Kootenai Medical Center, according to the report. The cattle weren’t so lucky.

In addition to the eight cattle killed or mortally injured by the crash, two were hit by a train, the report states. Three or four local ranchers helped wrangle 12 more cattle, which were put back into the trailer when it was towed. But the dozen later escaped the fenced tow yard and were unaccounted for late Thursday, according to the report.