Two cows die in lorry crash on A35 Bakers Arms roundabout

A large emergency service response was seen at the Bakers Arms roundabout on Monday evening after a livestock lorry flipped on its side. 

The dramatic scenes saw a road closure put in place before the trapped animals could be freed from the overturned trailer. 

Farmers from the vicinity also turned out in force and helped move the freed cattle to a safe location.

Dorset Echo: Livestock lorry on its sideLivestock lorry on its side (Image: Daily Echo)

The fire brigade has confirmed that with the help of two vets and a nearby farmer, they managed to rescue 54 of the 56 cows. 

They were taken to safety a temporary pen at the nearby farm.

Two died.

Martyn Bates and Julie Turnbull, who are visiting from Australia, also made their way to the scene from their nearby campsite after hearing the lorry overturn from their caravan. 

Julie said: “We heard the loud crash and this banging and banging of the cattle kicking on the trailer. 

Dorset Echo: The road was closed until around 11pmThe road was closed until around 11pm (Image: Daily Echo)

“The sound was so strange and was muffled, just awful. It kept going on. 

“We ran round to see what had happened and saw the lorry on its side.” 

She added: “Really excellent work done by the recovery lads. It was an impressive, precision job done in a very slow, controlled manner. They clearly knew what they were doing.” 

Two heavy duty recovery lorries with cranes lifted to stricken lorry back on all its wheels and took it away from the scene.

Dorset Echo: The road was closed until around 11pmThe road was closed until around 11pm (Image: Daily Echo)

One worker at the Bakers Arms pub said: “There was lots of fire engines here and police cars – they turned up very quite quickly.”

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said the force was called at around 6pm to the crash and officers closed the road. 

She added: ““The road was closed to protect the livestock and allow emergency services to safely deal with the incident. 

“The lorry was recovered and the road was reopened at around 11.15pm. No arrests were made.” 

The driver of the lorry appeared to be uninjured. 

The RSPCA were also in attendance and have been approached for a comment. 

References

  1. ^  ‘We heard banging from the cattle’: Livestock lorry overturns on roundabout (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk)