Driver Slams SUV Into Cow On Highway 97

August 11, 2014

The driver of a SUV was not injured when she slammed into a cow Sunday night on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill.

The female driver hit the black cow  in the roadway in a dark wooded area on Highway 97 south of  Tungoil Road about 11:15 p.m. She was evaluated at the scene by Atmore Ambulance but refused medical treatment. The adult female cow did not survive the collision with the Toyota Land Cruiser.

The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.


Comments

15 Responses to “Driver Slams SUV Into Cow On Highway 97”

  1. Linda Kelly on August 11th, 2014 8:52 pm

    I was the driver of the FJ last night. I have lived in Walnut Hill for twenty two years and have only hit a dear already dead in the road before last night’s incident. I will say that it was a split second and air bags deployed and swerving all over the road but I do believe that the build of the FJ truly saved me. It handles well and did what it was built to do. I feel very bad that the cow was killed. I own farm
    animals and would never hurt one intentionally. Drivers on Atmore Highway beware of animals. I want to thank Richard Cook who lives in Walnut Hill for stopping and staying there with me until my family and rescue came. It is very scary on a dark road like Atmore Highway when you have broke down or had an accident. I was shocked that so many cars came upon me and did not stop nor even slow down. Thank you all for your concerns and the support shown. Thank you to the Walnut Hill Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Department and Florida Highway Patrol

  2. Bob C on August 11th, 2014 8:06 pm

    @ David H Green.
    The Prius may have gone UNDER the cow but there still could have been udder destruction.

    Driver’s well being obviously due to air bags deploying and using a seat belt.
    Save your life, Buckle Up.

    Frightening for the driver for sure….unavoidable and unexpected.
    Thankful driver is okay…

  3. Bobbie on August 11th, 2014 1:57 pm

    Monica,
    as long as the owner of said animal has done everything to prevent the animal from getting out such as sufficient fencing etc. then they are not held responsible for such ACCIDENTS. you can not predict what an animal will do but you can try to maintain their safety and the safety of others by insuring that your fence is not falling down or broken. if you have a maintained fence then you have done your job, and no one can know what an animal is going to do so it is hard to stop them from doing things to jeopardize themselves and others. we had a mule hit by a car because he decided to jump a five strand fence and there was no way to stop this because in the 5 years we owned him he had never tried to jump any fence even a short two strand. that day something made him jump and go and he paid the ultimate price with his life.

  4. jeeperman on August 11th, 2014 1:16 pm

    Glad she is okay.
    I assume the airbags did a lot in preventing injuries?

    So does she get to keep the roadkill hamburger?

  5. Chris Maloney on August 11th, 2014 12:42 pm

    Does the driver at least get a box of steaks?

  6. G H on August 11th, 2014 12:38 pm

    I have one of these vehicles. Nice to see it will take a punch. Looks like 0 damage from the firewall back.

  7. Just saying on August 11th, 2014 12:32 pm

    Live stock laws pretty much relieve the farmers from liability with a few exceptions.

    Bad accident. In this case physics and engineering saved the drivers life. Had the vehicle been smaller and lighter the cow very likely would have entered the passenger compartment.

    Cars can be replaced. People can’t. Glad she was ok.

  8. yep on August 11th, 2014 12:29 pm

    Holy Cow!!!

    Glad there were no serious injuries.

  9. haley on August 11th, 2014 12:14 pm

    Oh my. So glad the driver is okay. The car looks terrible. Monica, I am sure the owner of that cow had no intentions of harming a driver or anyone for that matter. Accidents do happen and there are the rare occasions where farm animals do get out of the fence. I knew of an occasion where Gulf Power went in a pasture and did not shut the gate after leaving and several horses got out. Not the fault of the owner of the horses. Just carelessness on the part of the Gulf Power employee. You have to look at these situations on a case by case basis. It isnt always the fault of the owner of the livestock. I am just greatful the driver of the car was okay.

  10. Chris on August 11th, 2014 11:31 am

    I travel this road every night about this time and worry about hitting deer all the time never though of hitting a cow glad she is alright

  11. Monica on August 11th, 2014 11:29 am

    This is not unusual in the north end of the county! My brother was involved in a bad wreck with a horse years ago. The people that own these animals should be held responsible if, and when, they get out of their enclosures! Farm animals can kill people if they are left unattended, accident or not.

  12. William on August 11th, 2014 10:26 am

    >>What are the chances of hitting a cow?

    Not that great, but I’ve covered probably a half dozen such wrecks. And several more with horses. Just part of our rural lifestyle I guess.

  13. jean overman on August 11th, 2014 10:20 am

    What are the chances of hitting a cow? 1 for the driver 0 for cow. The angel on your shoulder maybe?

  14. David Huie Green on August 11th, 2014 10:09 am

    A Prius might have gone UNDER the cow.

  15. Bob's Brother on August 11th, 2014 8:24 am

    By the look of the wreckage, the driver probably would not have survived the impact had she been driving a Prius.