Cows On The Road Cause Early Morning Traffic Chaos In Lubbock

If you’ve lived around Lubbock County long enough, you know we share the road with all kinds of travelers — some of them have four legs and moo.

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The Incident

That was the case early Tuesday morning, when the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office responded to an unusual call around 4:46 AM. The report came from the 15200 block of NFM 179, where a single-vehicle accident had occurred involving several cows wandering on the road.

The driver, whose name hasn’t been released, reportedly struck multiple cows but thankfully wasn’t injured. First responders arrived quickly and confirmed that while the crash left debris scattered across the roadway, no human injuries had been reported.

The Texas Department of Transportation was called in to assist with road cleanup and assess any damage to the highway itself. Meanwhile, the cows...well, they didn’t exactly walk away unscathed, sadly. Officials haven’t said yet how many were involved or what their condition is.

The cause of the incident? Pretty straightforward: livestock loose on the road — a hazard that’s more common in West Texas than most would think.

READ MORE: Truck Slams Into Lubbock Building — Fire Crews Rush In, Miraculously No Injuries Reported

What Should You Do If You See Cows (or Any Livestock) in the Road?

Here in Lubbock and the surrounding areas, it’s not unheard of for cattle to get out of a fence — especially on farm-to-market roads. If you’re driving and come across livestock on the highway, here’s what to do:

1. Slow down immediately. Don’t swerve. That can be more dangerous than hitting the animal.

2. Call 911 or the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office to report loose livestock. Be specific about your location.

3. If you hit an animal, pull over safely, turn on your hazard lights, and call for help.

4. Don’t attempt to approach or herd the animals yourself — that’s a good way to get kicked, trampled, or worse.

5. Stay in your vehicle and wait for authorities or the landowner to arrive.

Crashes involving animals can be dangerous, even deadly — especially at highway speeds. So always stay alert, especially in the early morning or after dark.

Drive safe out there, Lubbock! And remember: the cows aren’t going to look both ways.