A semi truck hauling cattle overturned on its side on Illinois Route 37 near the Kenco Road south of Alma Friday morning, setting off a nearly six hour effort to free the cattle trapped inside.
The driver of the truck, 35-year-old Daniel Shepard of Elwood, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment. The final tally on the cows showed 11 killed and 31 who were cut out of the trailer alive. An estimated 25 to 30 volunteershelped cut open the trailer with arotary saw to get the cows out. State Police say earlier reports that some of the cows escaped wereincorrect.
The cause of the wreck remains under investigation. The truck's steering system will be studied on Tuesday as a possible cause. No tickets have been issued at this time, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The wreck occurred at nine Friday morning. Cattle were still being removed in the early afternoon hours. The trailer was eventually rolled back over and removed by a tow truck at 3:15 Friday afternoon. State Police were joined on the scene by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies, Kinmundy-Alma Firemen, and Marion County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency personnel. - http://goo.gl/nY72p
