Accident between cow and car claims the life of a cow near Union

UNION – Oregon State Police recently responded to a reported accident involving a cow and a car along State Route 237B. The accident occurred near mile marker 24, about 7.5 miles south of Union, at approximately 9:12 p.m. on Thursday, September 19. The OSP's official description of the accident, as listed in a recent media log, is as follows:

“A white Chevy pickup truck was traveling southbound on State Route 237B near milepost 24 in the dark at a posted speed of 55 MPH. The driver struck a black cow standing in his lane and was unable to avoid a collision. The white Chevy struck the cow, then traveled off the right shoulder of the roadway, broke through a barbed wire fence, and finally came to rest in the adjacent field. The cow was found dead on the southbound shoulder. The Chevy was towed from the scene by Captain Hooks Towing.”

Fortunately, no injuries were reported. A reminder for motorists traveling on rural roads, especially at night or in poor visibility, is that many Oregon counties are partially or entirely considered pastureland, increasing the likelihood of livestock roaming on or near roads.

According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Grant, Harney and Lake counties are entirely open range, while Union, Baker, Wallowa, Malheur and Umatilla counties include both open range and cattle ranching areas. Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 607, defines open range as “an area where cattle are legally permitted to roam freely.”