Cattle truck overturns, causes chain-reaction accident on I-75

The north and southbound of I-75 are now open, emergency officials say, following a series off accidents caused when a cattle truck overturned at about 2:45 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Whitley County Emergency Services Coordinator Danny Moses said about 34 cattle were release when the truck overturned while traveling southbound on the interstate at around the 20 mile marker. The cattle were scattered along a five mile stretch of highway between Exits 15 and 25 causing eight motor vehicle accidents including one tractor and trailer and one involving a  Whitley County ambulance responding to the scene of the accident.

Area regional emergency responders were called to the scene including Whitley County Animal Control in an effort to capture the livestock.  Four patients including an EMT and a paramedic were taken to Baptist Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Moses said four cattle are unaccounted for and animal control are searching for them.

The cause of the cattle truck accident has been undetermined at this time pending an investigation by law enforcement.

"Our Whitley County Animal Control officers did an impressive job of responding to this highly sensitive ordeal and should be recognized for a job well done.  It is commendable at how well all our emergency responders both locally and regionally respond to a crisis," said Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White in a media release Wednesday morning.