Both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 49 near the 189-mile marker were reopened following a dramatic overnight incident involving an overturned 18-wheeler that spilled approximately 70–80 cattle onto the roadway.
At 1:13 a.m. on July 22, DeSoto Parish 911 received reports of a tractor-trailer crash in the northbound lanes, roughly two miles south of the Stonewall/Frierson exit. The truck was transporting cattle, many of which escaped onto the interstate and nearby areas. Some animals were injured, while others roamed freely, creating a hazardous situation for motorists.
The driver of the 18-wheeler was injured and transported for medical treatment. The extent of those injuries remained unknown at the time of the report.
Both lanes of I-49 were immediately shut down as DeSoto Parish deputies and emergency dispatch coordinated with additional agencies for assistance in containing the loose cattle. Emergency services—including EMS, fire, and hazmat teams—responded as a precaution due to the scale and nature of the incident.
Just minutes later, at 1:21 a.m., 911 received a second emergency call after a pickup truck collided with a cow, which went through the vehicle’s windshield. Two people were transported to the hospital with possible serious injuries, including a juvenile passenger.
By 6:19 a.m., Kansas City Southern (KCS) was alerted to halt train traffic in the area as cattle had wandered close to nearby railroad tracks. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) placed signage warning motorists to “watch for cattle” as responders worked to round up the remaining livestock.
While all cattle were believed to have been located, authorities noted that without an exact head count, a stray animal could still be in the vicinity. Deputies, reserves, and a team of local cowboys remained on the scene monitoring traffic and continuing to search the area.
DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson thanked the many individuals and agencies involved in the response, stating, “There were too many to name, and many weren’t even first responders, but we tip a cowboy hat to them today.”
The sheriff extended his prayers to those injured and reminded travelers to continue exercising caution in the area. Warning signs remained in place as a safety measure.