They say stories like these come in threes: first, on Saturday, law enforcement in Tallahassee had to use a taser gun to recapture a llama that had escaped his pen, then a kangaroo was captured in Pasco County Sunday, now comes word that four llamas are being evaluated by veterinarians in southwest Florida after being passengers in a vehicle accident on I-75 Monday afternoon.
The Associated Press reports a pickup truck and an attached trailer carrying the llamas crashed near Punta Gorda, hitting a bridge over the Peace River before the trailer tipped onto its side, injuring one of the llamas.
"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."
One llama had to be strapped to a stretcher, and while the others appeared to be uninjured, Charlotte County Animal Control took all four to a veterinary hospital for a checkup. The driver of the truck was hospitalized with what officials said were minor injuries.
Also on Monday afternoon, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office released the 911 calls from Sunday's pursuit of a kangaroo on the loose.
The Tampa Bay Times reports Florida Fish and Wildlife Officials are still trying to determine who owns the kangaroo.
