TWENTY-EIGHT head of cattle died in a truck accident near Guyra when the trailer in which they were travelling came loose, skidded across the road, and tipped over on its side.
Sergeant Gemma Gallagher from Armidale Police said it appeared that the B-Double Kenworth Prime Mover’s back trailer disengaged from the main vehicle due to a mechanical failure.
She added that the driver and passenger, who were unharmed, travelled several hundred metres further along the road before realising what had occurred.
The accident happened on the Ebor Road, 15km from Guyra, at 3.40pm on Thursday.
The truck was transporting 76 head of cattle belonging to a local property owner, with 26 in the A trailer and 50 in the B trailer.
A witness to the accident spent four hours helping to remove cattle, some of which had to be put down at the scene, from the upturned trailer.
The accident was attended by police from Guyra and Armidale, as well as by the Volunteer Rescue Association.
