Meadow Farm Vets saves four cows from M5 cattle crash

The M5 northbound between junction 5 (Droitwich) and junction 4a (M42) was closed in both directions yesterday (Thursday) after a crash involving a vehicle with cattle inside.

Among the emergency services on the scene were Meadow Farm Vets from Stoke Prior, who had received a more unusual call than they experienced from day to day.

Teams had worked to create a safe passage for the cattle. (Image: Meadow Farm Vets)Sophie Aylett, who runs the practice with her husband Richard, said the practice received a call from National Highways alerting them that four cows need their help on the M5.

"First, when we arrived, we had to make sure the vet could actually get close, and we ran a brief risk assessment and spoke to police.

"We then climbed across the transport vehicle and and visibly assessed as much as we could.

"The cattle were quite stressed.

Fire crews had to force the door open to let the cattle out of their trailer. (Image: Meadow Farm Vets)"We shut off the motorway in both directions so the cars did not spook the cattle - that is why it was closed, and we are sorry about that.

"Each was quickly examined, and all four had no injuries."

She said the cattle were then moved onto another trailer, and as soon as the door closed, the motorway opened in the southbound direction.

The process took the team nine minutes to turn the entire operation around.

"They were absolutely fine - one was a little stiff, but it was just thrown around in a washing machine, so that was no surprise.

Four cows were inside the trailer. (Image: Meadow Farm Vets)"We spoke to the owner last night, and they said the cattle are happily tucking into its dinner."

Mrs Aylett said that the team is trained for different situations, so they know what to do and how to do it safely.

Emergency services first arrived on the scene at 6.20am on Thursday.

One man has been injured in the incident and taken to hospital.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance said: "An ambulance crew came across an RTC on the M5 Northbound between junctions 5 and 4 near Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, at around 6.30am.

"A van and a car had been involved in a collision, and the vehicle was towing a trailer carrying livestock, which had overturned.

"The driver of the car, a man, was treated by ambulance staff for injuries not believed to be serious before being conveyed to Alexandra Hospital for further assessment.

"The driver of the van did not wish to be assessed."