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Aggressive, 1,300-pound bull causes car collision on I-495, police say

With the help of the bull's owners, law enforcement euthanized the bull.

Body Camera footage of the charging bull moments before it was shot.

August 12, 2024

1 minute to read

A loose bull caused a car crash in Raynham before police euthanized the animal, Raynham authorities said on Monday.

Farm owners were loading the bull onto a transport trailer heading for a slaughterhouse when the animal became frightened and escaped, the Raynham Police Department said in a statement.

Officers responded to 911 calls of a loose bull around 9 a.m. on Monday, the statement said. The bull came from Mathieu Farms and ran down Jennings Drive near Elm Street East. Authorities say the bull ran through multiple fences, some electrical, and jumped over a 6-foot tall beam to escape.

The bull then ran onto the I-495 and caused a three-car collision, the statement said. The Raynham Fire Department said they transported one driver to the hospital for their injuries.

Officers and farm staff found the bull swimming in a nearby pond. The bull “aggressively” swam toward the group on the shore, the statement said, then left the water and began charging at an officer. The officer fired at the charging bull several times, the department said.

The statement explains the gunshots disabled the bull. However, the farm owner told police the bull would need to be put down rather than captured, due to the animal’s “aggressive” nature. The farm owner, a registered gun owner and hunter, retrieved his personal hunting rifle and killed the bull.

“I want to commend our brave officers who put themselves in harm’s way to make sure that a bad situation did not get worse,” Raynham Police Chief LaPlante said. “Facing a charging 1,300-pound bull is not something you go into your shift thinking is going to happen, but our officers were able to respond and effectively handle the situation and prevent further injury and destruction.”