A Nixon man was sent to a local hospital the morning of October 2 after he survived a head-on vehicle collision with a cow.

Everados Veliz was traveling north on State Highway 80 four miles south of Gillett when the accident happened. It was about 4 a.m., very dark, and foggy out. A black cow was standing in the middle of the northbound lane.

Veliz’s car was totaled on impact, but he suffered only minor injuries despite his vehicle’s airbag not properly deploying. He was wearing his seatbelt.

"Those things will mess you up. The county’s growing and (ranchers) need to watch their fences," said DPS Trooper Steven Bailey, who worked the wreck scene.

The problem of loose cattle on local roadways is becoming more and more serious for local law enforcement — especially county sheriff deputies, who are called out to deal with loose cattle on an almost daily basis, lately.

The wreck is at least the second in less than four months that has been attributed to loose cattle. A family of four was killed west of Kenedy on State Highway 73 June 17 when their car hit a tractor trailer head on after trying avoid a cow in the highway.

In neither case has the owner of the loose animal come forward.