Overturned Cattle Truck, Dozens of Cows Killed

A early-morning crash involving an overturned cattle truck and trailer shut down a freeway interchange ramp in Downtown Fort Worth for nearly 10 hours Wednesday.

The ramp from U.S. Highway 287 to northbound Interstate 35W was closed due to the crash for most of the day. After hoping to have the ramp open by noon, it ended up opening to traffic at about 4 p.m.

The overturned cattle trailer was carrying 95 cows. At least 27 cows were confirmed dead after the crash, but there are several more on the trailer with broken legs that may have to be euthanized.

The trailer is from Kansas. The driver of the trailer may be cited for not reducing his speed on a ramp, according to police sources.

In 2012, the driver of a tractor trailer carrying 89 head of cattle to Paris overturned on Interstate 35E south of Downtown Dallas. In that crash 19 cows either died in the crash or had to be euthanized due to their injuries. In that crash the driver was detained for suspicion of drunken driving. 

NBC 5's Josh Ault & Holley Ford contributed to this report.

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