The incident happened on the evening of Feb. 4 on the expressway in Lam Dong Province, as a truck carrying around 10 cows was traveling from Nha Trang toward Ho Chi Minh City.

Near Song Luy Commune, the truck’s rear door suddenly gave way, causing the animals to tumble onto the roadway and run in panic across lanes where vehicles were moving at high speed.

The unexpected sight of cows on the expressway sent traffic into chaos. Multiple drivers slammed on their brakes, veered sharply or pulled into the emergency lane to avoid collisions. Two cars behind the truck struck the herd, killing two cows.

Several vehicles suffered damage to their front ends and sides but were unable to stop safely in the darkness. No injuries were reported among drivers or passengers. Traffic police later arrived to secure the scene and restore order.

Authorities said the cattle were being transported from Ninh Thuan to Dong Nai. The driver pulled over after realizing what had happened. As of the following morning, six of the cows were still missing, and officials were working to determine how the cargo door failed.

The more than 100-kilometer Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet Expressway has been in operation since 2023, helping ease congestion on National Highway 1. However, the route has seen a growing number of accidents amid heavy traffic and high travel speeds.