Highway 50, one of two main arteries into and out of the Lake Tahoe region in the Sierra Nevada, was shut down near Placerville for hours Wednesday evening due to a jackknifed big rig, according to Caltrans.
Both directions of the highway were closed from Smith Flat Road in Placerville to 5.2 miles west of Pollock Pines in El Dorado County, Caltrans said, and travelers were advised to use an alternate route.
The truck reportedly was carrying cattle, and several cows initially were on the highway or off the shoulder of the road, according to a report from KCRA. Video from the TV station showed a temporary corral set up at the crash site.
All 77 cows were uninjured and accounted for, and the roadway reopened at around 9:50 p.m., officials said.
Currently, chains are required on Highway 50, except for vehicles with 4-wheel drive and snow tires, from 3 miles east of Kyburz to Meyers, Caltrans said.
