Fourteen cows are killed after cattle trailer transporting them from Maine to Ohio rolled over on Interstate 84

Fourteen cows died after a cattle truck transporting them from Maine to Ohio rolled down Interstate 84 early Thursday morning.

The trailer, which was carrying a total of 44 dairy cows, turned around 3:26 a.m. near the exit in Newton, Connecticut.

State police and members of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue station were called to the scene.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that eight cows died in the crash and six were euthanized.

The decision to euthanize the six cows was made by a state veterinarian and the cattle owner due to the injuries the animals suffered and the risk of exposure to dangerous conditions.

Fourteen cows died after a cattle truck transporting them from Maine to Ohio rolled down Interstate 84 in Connecticut early Thursday morning.

It is still unclear exactly how the accident happened, but the driver made a sharp turn as he left the highway

The unnamed driver of the truck was not injured in the crash and the exit was closed for several hours, but has since reopened.

The cause of the crash remains unknown as Connecticut State Police investigate the incident.

State troopers were asked to euthanize them on the spot after the vet called.

U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations have determined that the meat from the killed cows is no longer fit for human consumption.

The remaining 30 cows have been examined by the veterinarian, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The trailer turned around as it reached the off-ramp in Newton, Connecticut. State police and members of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue station were called to the scene

The trailer, which was carrying a total of 44 dairy cows, overturned on the off-ramp in Newton, Connecticut, around 3:26 a.m.

The driver of the truck was not injured in the accident and the exit was closed for hours, but has now reopened

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue posted a photo of the accident scene on Facebook.

“Firefighters on scene of a tractor rollover at the I-84 West exit, Exit 10 since 3:31 AM. No injuries to driver. Tractor with 44 cows. Exit 10 of the ramp is closed,” the caption read.

The post received many mixed reactions and comments full of regret for the cows involved, while some took a more comedic approach to the situation.

‘Come on people, you (sic) aren’t going to have 44 cows in a trailer and let them all come out alive, they are stressed and suffering. They also moved them at night so no one sees them being transported,” one comment said.

Another said: ‘That man must have fought too fast and it ended up being a COMPLETELY (sic) catastrophic situation.’

‘Yet another tragic example of our inhumane treatment of animals for food consumption. Remember that when you look at the beautifully packaged meat in the supermarket, wrapped in plastic. That was a living being suffering,” one commenter said.

The USDA National Agricultural Library states on their website: ‘Transportation can be a major stressor for animals, so it is important to consider their welfare during the process.

Animals must arrive at their destination in good health and with minimal discomfort.’