Bison injured by car on I-20, euthanized by police

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By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County Police officers have shot and killed a bison that fell off a truck on I-20 eastbound on Friday afternoon.

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Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com Drivers pass by the carcass of a buffalo hit on I-20 eastbound at Columbia Drive on Friday, Feb. 26, 2010.

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The bison apparently fell out of the back of the trailer in which it was being transported, the DOT said.

The incident happened around 3 p.m. on I-20 East near Columbia Drive. A man was transporting two bisons along I-20 when one either fell or jumped out, DeKalb County police spokesman Jason Gagnon said.

The animal was alive but was injured with broken legs, Gagnon said.

DeKalb police contacted the state Department of Natural Resources to tell them what happened -- and the DNR told officers to euthanize the animal, Gagnon said.

"It was to end its suffering," Gagnon said.

The man who was transporting the bison has been cited, Gagnon said. He was not sure of the charges or where the man was transporting the bison.

The owner had told DOT officials that the animal was a buffalo. The DOT, however, has confirmed that the animal is an American Bison, which is native to North and South America. Buffalos are native to Africa and Asia.

The accident shut down all I-20 lanes eastbound. They were reopened about two hours later, the DOT said.

Salah Muhammad was driving east on I-20 near I-285 when he noticed traffic starting to back up. About five minutes later, Muhammad said he saw the buffalo sitting next to the HOV lane, bleeding.

Parts of the buffalo's tail had been severed, Muhammad told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The animal was sitting up and looking around, he said.

Muhammad said a couple of vehicles were parked to the side of the road as well.

Check back with ajc.com for more.