Sometimes truck accidents can be serious, sometimes they can be scary, and sometimes they can be bizarre. The accident that occurred at 2:30 pm Thursday May 6, 2010 in Redlands, CA can be classified as all three.

A tractor-trailer, collided with another truck, and overturned, blocking the eastbound lanes on Interstate 10; serious. About half of the truck’s 160 passengers were killed in the impact of the crash, while the other 80 remained trapped on board, scary. That these 160 passengers turned out to be cattle; bizarre.

It also bears mentioning that although the death of some 90 cows is tragic, it was quite lucky that no humans were killed in this huge accident. Although according to a San Bernardino truck accident attorney, it is thought that several motorists were reporting injuries as a result of the accident.

The accident occurred as the driver of the cattle-rig attempted to merge into the slow lane, West of the University Street Off-Ramp, and failed to notice that a smaller truck already occupied the lane. Becoming aware of the truck at the last second, the driver of the rig over-corrected, causing his cattle-packed trailer to flip in front of the truck cabin, and land on its side.

This flip of the cattle-rig is what caused the death and subsequent entrapment of the cattle cargo. The San Bernardino Animal Control, Redlands Animal Control, and Redlands Fire Department, along with many volunteers, worked to free the trapped cattle. The surviving cattle were taken to a nearby pasture located on Orange Street, provided by a volunteer.

This serious truck accident was very lucky to produce no human deaths. The condition of either truck driver has not been reported, but due to the unusual circumstance of the accident, it would be wise for both drivers to consult a San Bernardino truck accident attorney or Riverside truck accident attorney to understand their respective rights in this matter. Any motorist injured in this accident would be wise to do the same.