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(Shoshoni, WY) – Just before 7 am on Wednesday, a cattle truck hauling over 120 calves crashed on WY-789 near the causeway at Boysen Reservoir.
With firefighters on the scene working hard to save the surviving calves, community members began to show up to help in any way they could.
Local rancher Dustin Taylor and his horse Bodie were among the first to jump in.
“It was quite the ordeal,” he told County 10. “I just figured I could help.”
Dustin explained he already had Bodie loaded and was ready to go that direction to move some cattle in Meeteetse when he learned about the crash.
The Missouri Valley Fire Department borrowed portable corrals from Tom and Jenn Severude to contain the surviving 100 or so calves as they cut them out of the trailer, Dustin shared.
Bob Britan and Dustin’s dad helped stabilize the makeshift corral with their trucks. Dustin and Bodie pulled the casualties from the trailer until Lee Cady arrived with a 4-wheeler that Johnny Desmond used to remove the rest from the trailer.
Firefighters “…Cody Martin, Jon McConahay, Steven Weber, and Walt Neil worked their asses off cutting the trailer apart enough to save those calves,” Dustin wrote in a Facebook post.
“Scott Campbell worked his guts out, then went and hauled cows in his truck, Scott Harris pulled calves out of that trailer then helped me ship cows in Meeteetse,” he continued.
“Ryan Bros. Trucking from Thermopolis showed up in force, their Team was nothing but incredible. They had a support system like none other. From start to finish that company did nothing but help in a bad situation.”
In an email sent to County 10, Ryan Bros. Trucking shared their deepest heartfelt thank you to everyone who aided in their hour of need on Wednesday and to all the well-wishers.
“While we are not based in Fremont County, we do have many employees and business relationships throughout County 10. When word of a crash involving a semi-load of calves went out, help arrived in force. They came without question or concern for themselves. They came because someone needed help. They came because this is the Wyoming way.”
Ryan Bros. confirmed the driver only suffered minor injures.