THE police air wing was called in to round up a number of cows that were sent hurtling onto the Princes Freeway in Werribee last night when a cattle truck overturned.
The semi-trailer was heading towards Melbourne when it crashed off the freeway near the Sneydes Road overpass and overturned about 10.15pm.
The smash tipped the load of cattle onto the road, killing and seriously injuring many of the animals and blocking the freeway.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said some of the animals survived the crash and wandered away from the wreckage, causing a major traffic hazard.
The police air wing was called in to help a ranger and a Department of Primary Industries officer round up the animals. A number of injured cows were euthanised at the scene.
The truck driver escaped with minor shoulder injuries, and was able to climb out of the wreckage.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley said the 49-year-old man was taken to Western Hospital in Footscray in a stable condition.
The freeway was closed for about six hours last night while the gruesome accident scene was cleared.
It re-opened about 4am.
However VicRoads said the Melbourne-bound entry ramp from Werribee Main Road to the Princes Freeway remained blocked this morning until just before 7.30am.
