Multiple steers escape rodeo trailer, run loose on I-45 North Freeway

HOUSTON – Several lanes were closed for hours on I-45 North Freeway near the Montgomery County line on Monday afternoon, after six steers ran loose on their way home from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

The major accident was reported at 11:29 a.m. when the cattle ran through the northbound and southbound lanes of I-45 near Village Parkway at Rayford Road.

The incident extended toward the Hardy Toll Road and the Montgomery County line.

A latch on the trailer door came undone, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which set the cattle free.

Around 3:30 p.m., four hours later, all of the animals were loaded back onto the trailer they should have been in all along.

The trailer was carrying 31 roping steers, and six of them got loose while the driver was able to keep control of the rest of them, law enforcement said.

The animals had been transported from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and were en route back to Bonham, Texas. The sheriff’s office initially said they were going to Barnum, Texas, in Polk County.

“These particular cows are made for roping. They’re meant to come out of a chute and take off running,” said Lt. Chris Adolph, who leads the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s livestock unit.

Drivers could be seen jumping out of their vehicles and trying to help law enforcement corral the loose cattle in Sky 2 video. Some of them resorted to a grassy, wooded area while others were captured in the freeway median.

“We live in Texas, so, you know, it’s nothing new,” witness Elise Moore said, after spotting two of the steers on her workplace property. “They were just kind of running around in the parking lot, ate some grass back there ... we’re just kind of enjoying the show.”

She said some of the cattle appeared to be bloody.

Officials said they are still investigating potential charges for the driver, adding that it remains unclear whether the trailer was properly secured before the escape.

In earlier reports, officials said one steer was reportedly struck, causing a vehicle to overturn. At this time, officials believe there were no vehicle accidents involving the loose animals.

“You start honking your horn, you start chasing them, waving your hands. All you do is as a put pressure on them and they want to run,” Lt. Adolph said, suggesting drivers let law enforcement do the hard work if they encounter loose livestock on the road in the future.

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