Crash kills cattle near Nevada border
by Andrew Weeks Times-News writer
Monday, October 6, 2008 2:16 PM CDT
At least three-dozen cattle were killed Friday after a semi carrying the animals overturned near Murphy Hot Springs.
The truck, owned by Wagner Livestock Transport-ation of Twin Falls, was hauling about 107 head of cattle from Diamond A Ranch in Owyhee County to Twin Falls.
The driver of the truck stopped on the edge of a narrow road to make room for an approaching car when the ground beneath the truck gave way and toppled into the East Fork of the Jarbidge River, downstream of Murphy Hot Springs, according to the Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office.
“It was a bad wreck for no reason,” Roger Wagner, owner of the trucking company, told the Times-News. “He was just being a nice guy, trying to let this lady through.” The driver, Chance Gummow, wasn’t in the truck at the time it overturned. “He went to tell the driver that three more trucks were heading her way, so to be careful,” Wagner said.
Wagner said between 35 and 40 cattle were killed in the incident. The surviving animals were taken back to Diamond A Ranch, he said.
The Idaho Hazardous Materials team, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Elko County Sheriff’s Office and the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office also responded after an estimated 140 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the river.
The Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating.
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