Oklahoma Cowboys Rope Loose Calves After Cattle Hauler Overturns on I-35 in Kay County

An overturned cattle hauler on Interstate 35 near mile marker 208 turned into a scene straight out of ranch country this week when troopers called on local cowboys to help round up calves that had escaped along the highway. Tyler Jeffries, Charlie Brandon, TJ Langston, Jeremiah Chafin and Chris Fagan answered, arriving quickly to rope and secure the loose animals while emergency crews worked the scene. Several calves died in the crash, and others scattered before being caught.

Tonkawa EMS and Fire, the Kay County Sheriff’s Office, ODOT and Strickland Wrecker Service also assisted with the response. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol publicly thanked the volunteers, praising them for showing up without hesitation and noting that sometimes four-legged horsepower is exactly what the situation calls for.

For listeners here in Lawton and across southwest Oklahoma, the story lands close to home. Ranch skills, neighbors who answer the phone, and a community that shows up when something goes wrong on a highway. The Highway Patrol put it simply, saying you won’t find a better group of people anywhere in the world than the cowboys and cowgirls of Oklahoma. Know someone who would’ve grabbed a rope and gone? Tell us about them in the comments.