A South Carolina family hit seven cows in the middle of an Horry County highway Saturday night and then fled the scene.
Heather Schulze said the Schulze family was traveling from Myrtle Beach to Marion when they spotted black Angus cattle running on SC 22 between US 501 and SC 319 in the Aynor area. The husband, who was driving, slammed on the brakes, but it was too late.
Their 14-year-old son was also in the car that was destroyed in the accident.
“I don’t know how we’re still alive,” Schultz said. “I can’t believe this is true.”
All seven cows died. Schultz said police told her another cow also died in an accident earlier in the day.
A text message Monday from Horry County Public Information Officer Thomas Bell said six cows are still at large. He said they are “actively working to capture them” and Horry County police are assisting.
However, it’s unclear who “they” are. It is not known how the cows escaped or where they came from.
Bell said he did not have that information, but “I can add that the situation is under investigation.”
Bell previously said signage was placed along the road warning drivers to slow down because of the cows. At 10:39 p.m. Saturday, Horry County police posted on their Facebook page that several cows were roaming the area of the highway that runs parallel to Horry Road in the Aino area.
Schultz said the signs were placed on the roadway after the accident. She didn’t understand why the driver wasn’t notified after the first accident.
“They knew the cattle were free-range,” Schultz said. “This is completely avoidable.”
The speed limit on SC 22 is 65 mph. She said Schultz’s husband was driving about 68 mph at the time of the accident. The cows, although smaller, are estimated to weigh about 400 to 500 pounds each, Schultz said.
The highway was closed while rescue crews dealt with the incident and removed the cows.
For the Schultzes, they’re now waiting for insurance. Schultz said their vehicle was brand new, severely damaged and undrivable.
“I grew up in dairy country in Ohio” and have no problem with them, Schultz said. “I moved to South Carolina and I shot cattle.”
