WWW arkcity.net

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net

The driver of a cattle tractor-trailer rig that was blown off the road late Tuesday morning has been transferred to a Wichita hospital from William Newton Hospital in Winfield.

The injured driver, Dowd Jerome, 51, of Salina, was transferred in stable condition by ambulance to Wichita, a spokeswoman at William Newton Hospital said today.

Jerome was hauling live cattle to the Creekstone Farms Premium Beef plant when a strong gust of wind blew the truck off the road, said Cowley County Sheriff Bob Odell.

The rig overturned in a ditch during a brief snow and wind storm. The accident occurred on the south side of U.S. 160 east of Oxford.

The driver was pinned in the truck cab and was extricated by emergency workers, Odell said. He was transported to William Newton Hospital with "mainly bruises."

Several head of cattle perished in the accident, but most of the 33 on board were saved, Odell said.

The tractor-trailer was eastbound headed for Creekstone Farms in Arkansas City, he said.

The accident occurred about a mile west of the Udall turnoff between Winfield and Oxford.

Below: Emergency workers check the scene of a cattle truck accident this morning after a strong gust of wind blew the tractor-trailer off U.S. 160 east of Oxford. The driver was pinned in the cab, but received mainly bruises, the Cowley County sheriff said.