4 Llamas Involved in Car Crash in Southwest Florida

Four llamas were evaluated Monday at a southwest Florida veterinary hospital after being involved in a crash on Interstate 75, authorities said.

Charlotte County Fire-Rescue officials said a pickup truck carrying a trailer with four llamas crashed at mile marker 164, near Punta Gorda, shortly after 2:30 p.m. The truck crashed into a bridge over the Peace River and the trailer tipped onto its side.

One of the llamas was injured, officials said.

“The animals were very easy to deal with,” said Charlotte County Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Dee Hawkins-Garland, although “they were startled and had been tossed around in that trailer.” Hawkins-Garland added: “I’ve been with the department for 24 years and this is the first time I’ve ever dealt with llamas.”

Photos taken by fire rescue officials show one of the llamas strapped on a stretcher, and another photo with two llamas in the trailer.

Three of the llamas appeared to be uninjured, officials said. Charlotte County Animal Control took the four llamas to a veterinary hospital for a checkup.

The driver of the pickup, a man in his 20’s, was injured and taken to a hospital. Officials said he suffered minor injuries and was in stable condition.

The Florida Highway Patrol was investigating the crash.