A passel of goats cut loose after turnpike mishap

The trailer came to rest in the median, where 15 goats escaped and began to disrupt traffic on both the northbound and southbound lanes.(MSP photo)

FALMOUTH - Some goats got the goat of motorists and police today when a trailer the critters were being transported on crashed on the Maine Turnpike.

The accident occurred around 12:40 p.m., drawing State Police after it was reported a trailer carrying goats become detached from its towing vehicle on the turnpike's northbound near mile marker 52 in Falmouth.

The trailer came to rest in the median, where 15 goats escaped and began to disrupt traffic on both the northbound and southbound lanes. Troopers quickly responded and coordinated efforts to corral the goats. An investigation determined that the driver, operating a 2013 Toyota pickup truck towing a farm trailer, experienced a disconnection between the vehicle and trailer. There were no significant injuries to the driver or the goats. Southbound traffic was minimally affected, while northbound traffic was slowed for about 45 minutes but continued to flow.