Loose Cow Put Down After Rhode Island Bridge Ordeal

A  has been put down after a two-hour chase in and around Route 138.

"We've had cows on the highway, but I can't say we've ever had one on the bridge," said Lt. Skip Buxton of the Rhode Island State Police.

According to Buxton, Don Minto of Watson Farm was transporting two cows across the bridge around 7:30 a.m. when the back door somehow opened and the cow fell out. Though the cow suffered minor injuries from the fall, it continued to roam the bridge for another 15 minutes, causing traffic jams in both directions. Police and officials from the Department of Environmental Management were able to corral the cow off the bridge and down Route 138, eventually putting it down around 9:30 a.m. at Mento's request.

Buxton added that both cows were on their way to Johnston to be slaughtered.

"They were doomed anyway, unfortunately," said Buxton.