A semi-truck hauling 48 cattle rolled over on westbound Interstate 76 near Brush early Tuesday, spilling its cargo across the highway and triggering a chain of collisions that left 10 animals dead and nine still unaccounted for. The driver was injured and taken to the hospital, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Colorado State Patrol troopers responded to the crash around 2:58 a.m. near milepost 102, east of Brush, after the semi entered the center median and rolled, according to the Denver Gazette. As the cattle scattered across the unlit interstate lanes, three additional semi-trucks and a passenger vehicle struck the loose animals in a series of secondary collisions, according to reporting by KRDO. As of Tuesday morning, the extent of the driver's injuries was unavailable, and Colorado State Patrol reported no injuries to the other drivers involved.
Of the 48 cattle aboard the trailer, 10 were found dead, 29 were tracked down alive, and nine remained unaccounted for, per the Colorado State Patrol's account relayed by the Denver Gazette. The agency is leading the investigation into the crash, and no estimated reopening timeline had been determined as of Tuesday morning.
Interstate 76 Closure
The wreck forced Interstate 76 closed in both directions, according to 9NEWS. As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, the interstate remained closed between Atwood and Hillrose, per the Gazette's reporting.
The crash occurred in September.
Why Cattle Trailers Tip So Easily
Forensic engineering research cited by the Truck Accident Lawyers Group shows that loaded livestock trailers carry a high center of gravity and can reach the point of imminent rollover at tilt angles as small as five degrees, largely because cattle shift their weight dynamically inside the trailer during sudden maneuvers. In this case, the truck entered the median and rolled.
A prior report from KRAI & 55 Country described a crash involving a cattle trailer and several semi-trucks.
Who Answers for Loose Livestock on the Interstate
Colorado State Patrol Troop 3B is based in Sterling, with a Port of Entry in Fort Morgan. Livestock escaped following the crash.
The legal questions surrounding loose cattle on fenced interstates are more nuanced than they might appear. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 35-46-105, it is unlawful for owners to let livestock onto public highways separated by fences, though drivers who strike loose animals are not held civilly liable unless their actions were willful or wanton, according to Justia Law. The statute does not establish a complete liability conclusion for escaped animals on fenced interstate corridors.
Federal rules add another layer to how these crashes get investigated. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations under 49 C.F.R. § 395.1(k) describe an agricultural exemption when operations remain within the 150-air-mile rule, subject to conditions concerning the load's source and delivery points.
