Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 23 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
Record Feb. 25
Published Monday, February 25, 2008
Six cows killed on road in fog:
Six cows standing on the road in Sunday’s foggy conditions died after being struck by a vehicle.
At about 7:30 a.m., Matthew M. Blais, 41, Erhard, was westbound on Highway 1 near Weetown driving a 1993 GMC Blazer, in extreme fog, when he struck the cows. Two of the animals, belonging to Walter Zelinsky, were killed instantly. Two were injured and in the ditch. Two were still on the road.
Rachel Kay Anderson, 39, Fergus Falls, was westbound in a 1998 Pontiac, and also struck one of the cows. An unnamed unit struck one of the dead cows and Anderson’s vehicle.
The Blais vehicle sustained $1,000 damage. The Anderson vehicle sustained $750 damage. No one was injured.
Meanwhile, around 9:34 a.m. Sunday at the same location, Larry Dean Buchholz, 51, was driving a 2009 Nissan westbound on Highway 1. He had slowed down due to fog and the cow carcasses on the shoulder of the road from the previous crash, when he was struck by James Stewart, Dowdell, 17. Dowdell was going about 45 mph at at the time. Dowdell tried to avoid the collision by turning towards the shoulder, but hit the cow carcasses.
There was $1,000 damage to the Buchholz vehicle and $500 to Dowdell’s vehicle. They were not injured, but a passenger in the Buchholz vehicle, Julie Buchholz, 40, sustained minor neck injuries.
30 without water after a water main break:
About 30 homes on the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Aurdal Street and the 400 and 500 blocks of Cedar Avenue on the northeast side of town are expected to be without water for most of the day due to a water main break discovered around 5 a.m. today.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by ucknay (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The facts here are wrong. There were 2 dead cows 2 injured cows. The first vehicle was a jeep, the 2nd and 3rd were pontiacs one a 2005 one a 2000. the jeep is totaled. Noone could fix that poor truck. Lets just say slow down people when it is foggy It could have been much worse since people were only hitting there brakes once they came right upon it. You never know what you might come upon.
Posted by upeoplernuts (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hamburger anyone?
Posted by tsy86h (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard that after the crash one cow had no legs.
/
The highway patrol reported as being ground beef.
/
Another cow was left with only three legs. It was recorded to be lean beef.
\
I AM GLAD THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED BADLY IN THE CRASH. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THANK-GOD IT WAS NOT!
Posted by Nuzzget (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It wasnt a jeep it was a jimmy it's sitting down at the shop down the road. Walt's dog is the one that chased it out to the road. (i'm his brother)
Posted by Granny (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who cares what the vehicles are or were.
The main concern is that no one was seriously injured.
Posted by localfisherman (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sounds like walts got some fencing to do
Posted by Kloob (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a bloodbath.
Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First off, get your facts straight, Susan Larson.
During the 9:34 AM crash, James Dowdell did not hit any cows. He swerved and ended up in the ditch. How do I know this? James is my sister's boyfriend.
The Daily Journal really needs to step their reporting up a notch (or two or three notches at that) and learn to get actual facts from reputable sources.
Posted by Granny (anonymous) on February 25, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just one question anyone please answer if u know this answer.
2009 Nissan are they already out???
Posted by Nuzzget (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 3:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was stumped with the 2009 nissan too.
Posted by daidres (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, I love animals, and beef too, but that comment about the Ground beef and lean beef was too......
Hilarious !!
Good one !
Happy no one human was injured! SLow down in fog it could have been a kid crossing the road to get to their bus stop, or someone putting mail in their mailbox!
Posted by JulieBuchholz (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was in the brand new 2009 Nissan that was hit! Our 3 year old son was in our vehicle too & I just thank God he was not hurt. It was an unfortunate morning for all but lets all put our perspectives together & say it was a blessing nobody was hurt that morning. I must say it was very sad to see those poor animals -- this site I will not soon forget. Please everyone remember the next time you get on the road & it is foggy to slow down & drive with care. I must say I was very surprised when we were waiting for the police to finish the paper work -- all the vehicles that were driving past too fast & without their lights on!
Posted by jbcp19 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yes 2009 models are out!
Posted by sassica (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know when the burgers are being served and where?
Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JulieBuchholz: I am glad you guys are okay :)
Posted by eagle_eye (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 10:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like more "hearsay" reporting on the part of Ms. Larson. This should be a "heads up" to all local farmers with any kind of livestock...make sure you have "livestock liability" insurance. That way if any of your critters..be it cattle, chickens or whatever, get in the road or otherwise are responsible for damage, you are covered. The small cost is well worth the benefits if they are needed. Cattle DO get out, even with the best fences. Our neighbor's cattle have no respect for electric fences or barbed wire. They simply step over or through the smallest gaps. Often deer jump the fences and bend down the top wire making it easier for an escape route for cattle. Again....everyone should slow down in poor visibility and not simply assume that the road ahead is clear of obstacles or slow moving vehicles. The first part of "assume" describes the people who assume too much!
Posted by samkiefer (Sam Kiefer) on February 27, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i hope i'm not too late to the party. i feel the need to clarify that the record section of the Daily Journal is taken directly from the police reports which are public record. (Hence naming the section "record x/x/08") Unfortunatley a good reporter is only as good as their initial data. Any problems with vehicle years being incorrect are more than likely an issue that goes back to the police reports. (let's not rag on my spelling or grammar either, as I just do video, thank you very much.)
Posted by tomsmom (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, Sam! Maybe this will shut some people up!
Posted by mgdbottled (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The farmer who owned the cows is the one who would probably be doing the suing if any suits occur. The drivers are responsible for the damage to the animals. Not the cattle owner. Had a brother-in-law (who owned cows that strayed onto the highway) who ended up suing a driver for damages to his cows after they were hit by a car. Brother-in-law won under some old grazing right statute. Not sure if that statute is still in effect? Probably is? Glad no one was seriously hurt.
Posted by really (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
2009 model vehicles are out. So get over thinking that the police report was wrong.
Posted by daidres (anonymous) on February 29, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember the horse who got killed on I94 years ago, well, the owners had to pay because they did not have their animal in control, The horse was worth tens of thousands and that didn't matter, they lost the champion horse in an instant, and the driver who hit it, ended up getting hurt pretty bad, and didn't get sued. It wasn't his fault that the horse was standing in the middle of the interstate. I seen the accident first hand and the guy was lucky he didn't die like the horse did. You have to keep your animals in control at all times, or you could end up in huge trouble. Thank goodness no one was injured with the cows, because the owner could have been in really big trouble.
Posted by Granny (anonymous) on March 1, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wasn't thinking the police report was wrong really didn't care. Was really wondering if the 2009 were out. Learned something today so it payed to get out of bed.
Glad your family and all the rest are doing ok Julie.
Posted by Nuzzget (anonymous) on March 19, 2008 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In my first comment i said his dog did it but it was wrong they escaped on their own. I just needed to clear that up since this site doesnt let me delete my own comment.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)