State trooper follows ‘concussion protocol’ after owl flies into cruiser
Meet “Gronk” the owl.
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski isn’t the only one being put through concussion protocol this week. Massachusetts State Police said Monday that an owl was given “five concussion protocol tests” after it flew into the side of a trooper’s cruiser on Sunday night in Tolland. Police said on Facebook that Trooper Michael O’Neil Jr. was startled by the owl’s impact. “He stopped, assessed the unconscious owl for visible injuries,” the agency wrote. “Finding no injuries, Trooper O’Neil placed the owl on his lap, and continued on, in route to a local animal hospital to have it evaluated.”When the owl came to as he was driving, O’Neil pulled over in Granville. “After a brief struggle in the cruiser, Trooper O’Neil gave the owl five concussion protocol tests, which it passed,” police said. Police shared a video of the owl in the cruiser, perched on O’Neill’s hand.“OK, let’s see if you want to leave,” the state trooper can be heard saying to the bird. Police said the owl, who has been nicknamed Gronk, eventually flew off. Watch the video below:
https://www.facebook.com/MassStatePolice/videos/1596154750468502/
