This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Who knew that a Utah Highway Patrol trooper's duties includes herding cows?

But that's exactly what several officers found themselves doing Saturday at 10:55 a.m. on Interstate 15 near Cedar City.

According to Sgt. Jacob Cox, of the Utah Highway Patrol, the gate of a truck transporting cows came loose and the animals began coming out onto the highway.

"Most of the cows are ambulatory," he said. "Troopers started herding them back into the truck."

Early reports were sketchy as troopers tried to get the situation under control. Cox said traffic on both sides of Interstate 15 was slowed but not stopped.

The Highway Patrol reported that four calves fell out of the truck. Two were injured and needed to be put down.

A possible citation for the driver for not securing a load was pending.

"When cows fall off a truck that's going 80 miles an hour, it's not good," said Cpl. Jeff Humpries of the Iron County Sheriff's Department, who was involved in the incident.