THREE men were injured, two cows were killed and a number of cars were damaged after a man transporting stolen animals broke down on the M1 motorway.
Police were forced to close the motorway in both directions between Craigavon and the Birches on Wednesday night after the drama unfolded shortly before 11pm.
It is understood a man transporting the cattle, stolen from grounds near Antrim Hospital earlier on Wednesday evening, was forced to pull over after he got a flat tyre.
It has been reported he left the cattle trailer on the hard shoulder, with the cattle onboard, and returned with another trailer.
But as he came back to the scene, he reportedly did a u-turn on the motorway to get the trailers positioned back to back in order to move the cows.
However, some of the animals escaped from the trailer onto the motorway during the move.
One of the animals was killed on the westbound carriageway, while another died on the eastbound side after jumping over the motorway barrier.
The man then made off from the scene with the remaining cows, which were recovered the next day.
A PSNI spokesman said officers attended the scene following "reports of collisions involving two cows".
"The motorway was closed in both directions and re-opened shortly after 1am," he said.
"Both cows were killed and a number of cars badly damaged as a result of the incident. Three men reported injuries, which are not believed to be serious.
"One trailer was recovered at the scene and a silver coloured pick-up truck was reported to have left towing a second trailer containing a number of other cows, which were recovered in a paddock at The Birches the following day.
"It is believed the cattle had been stolen from grounds near Antrim Hospital earlier on Wednesday evening."
Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them.
