Authorities Investigating How Goat Herd Ran Into Traffic
GALT, Calif. (CBS13) -- The California Highway Patrol is still investigating how a herd of goats found their way onto Interstate 5 Saturday night, triggering car accidents and leaving dozens of animals dead.
Some surprised drivers were unable to avoid the nearly 200 goats that walked onto the southbound lanes of traffic near the Twin Cities Road off-ramp, causing several accidents and inflicting non-life threatening injuries to one driver.
As many as 30 to 40 goats were killed, and officers were forced to euthanize some of the severely wounded animals who were still alive. Most of the surviving goats have already been returned to their owner.
The CHP said it appears the animals wandered away from property about 3 miles west of Interstate 5 and may have spent most of Saturday walking around until they reached the road.
"They traveled along the riverbed to get to the freeway and once they got there, [they] were able to make their way on the freeway," said CHP spokesman Alex Manciu.
A faulty fence may have given the animals access to the interstate.
Manciu said the goats' owner has been questioned as part of the investigation, but it doesn't immediately appear that negligence played a role in the incident.
"We're not looking to file any criminal charges, but it is under investigation and it could change at any minute," he said.
