Llamas Land In Hospital Following SW Florida Crash

PUNTA GORDA (CBS4/AP) — Traffic is moving again Monday afternoon along a southwest Florida interstate after a crash involving four llamas.  All four of the llamas are being checked out at a veterinary hospital. One of them appeared to be injured.

Fire rescue officials managed to strap the injured llama to a stretcher. Charlotte County Animal Control transported all four  to a veterinarian to be checked.

"The animals were very easy to deal with," said Charlotte County Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Dee Hawkins-Garland, although "they were startled and had been tossed around in that trailer." Hawkins-Garland added: "I've been with the department for 24 years and this is the first time I've ever dealt with llamas."

The crash took place on I-75 shortly after 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. Charlotte County Fire-Rescue officials say a pickup truck carrying a trailer with four llamas crashed at mile marker 164, near Punta Gorda.  The truck crashed into a bridge over the Peace River.

A male driver in his 20's was taken to a hospital, but has minor injuries.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.

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