9 cows die after semi tips over

MARTIN, Mich. (WOOD) - A semi truck hauling cows tipped over Wednesday morning while traveling on U.S. 131 south of Martin, mile marker 55.

Police say the driver swerved to miss a deer in the road around 2 a.m., forcing the truck to slide off the shoulder in the right southbound lane.

The driver was hospitalized but the extent of his injuries are unknown at this time.

Thirty-five cows were on the trailer at the time; seven died in the crash and two had to be put down later.

The animals that survived were put into other trucks and removed from the scene.

A specialty company was called to the scene to remove the dead animals still inside the trailer, which was too heavy to upright at that time.

The road was reopened and the scene was cleared around 8:30 a.m.