RAYNHAM, Mass. (WPRI) — A 1,300-pound bull caused a multi-car crash and charged at police officers after escaping from a farm in Raynham, Massachusetts, on Monday.
Raynham police said they received multiple calls around 9 a.m. that a large black bull was running down Jennings Drive near Elm Street East.
Workers at Mathieu Farms were reportedly loading the bull onto a truck to be taken to a slaughterhouse when it became frightened and got loose. The owners of the farm warned police that the bull was highly aggressive.
According to police, the bull ran through multiple fences, some of which were electrified, and jumped over a six-foot berm to escape.
The Raynham Fire Department said the bull caused a three-car crash after it ran onto I-495. One of the drivers was taken to a local hospital for their injuries.
After the crash, the bull ran through the woods and into Lake Nippenicket before it was spotted near a water district building.
Upon noticing the officers, police said the bull “quickly and aggressively” swam toward the group, prompting an officer to fire shots. However, that didn’t stop the bull, and it then charged out of the water at the group onshore.
To avoid being injured, the officer fired several more shots, hitting the bull’s leg and disabling it, police said. The farm owner was on scene and humanely euthanized the animal because the officer’s gun was not powerful enough.
Farm staff had informed police early on that the bull would most likely need to be euthanized rather than captured due to its aggression.
“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 David LaPlante said in a press release. “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.”
Massachusetts State Police and other area departments also responded to help with the search.