A WARRNAMBOOL man was lucky to avoid serious injury after hitting two cows along the Camperdown-Lismore Road on Thursday morning.
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One of the cows finished on the tray of his ute.
Camperdown police Sergeant Sally Slingsby said the accident happened at 6.40am, one kilometre north of the Foxhow Road, when the Ford utility driver came across the two beef cows in the dark.
Both cows were killed and the driver, aged in his 50s, was taken to Camperdown hospital as a precaution for neck and head soreness.
"One cow landed on top of the Ford tray utility cabin, hit the cabin and rolled onto the canvas-covered tray," Sergeant Slingsby said.
"It was highly unusual to see the cow on the tray of the ute.
“There was some talk about whether we should launch an investigation into a possible theft," she said with a laugh.
Sergeant Slingsby said it was still dark when the accident happened and the driver was heading north to work.
The Ford ute has significant front-end damage.
"We would like to warn all drivers about the dangers of stock on the road – especially when it is cold and wet, like it is at present, and stock may be wandering looking for food," she said.
Anyone who sees stock on the roads is requested to contact their local police station or municipal council.
In other news in Warrnambool, a 17-year-old P-plate driver from the ACT was issued with a penalty notice after failing to give way at the intersection of Japan and Koroit streets on Thursday morning.
The young woman was travelling south on Japan Street about 9.30am when she collided with a vehicle travelling east on Koroit Street.
Both cars were described as insurance write-offs and towed from the scene
Neither driver was injured, but the P-plater was issued a penalty notice for failing to give way.
Sergeant Callum McKinnon, of Warrnambool police, encouraged all motorists to take care while driving in cold and wet conditions when visibility was poor.
“We have far too many accidents at intersections in Warrnambool,” he said.
“Warrnambool police have previously conducted numerous campaigns to raise driver awareness concerning the dangers of intersections.”