Hennef (dpa / lnw) – Because a free-ranging dog in Hennef (Sieg district) scared three cattle and a calf, the animals ran onto the railway tracks and were hit by a train. The cows did not survive the collision on Tuesday morning, the federal police said on Wednesday. The dog and its possible owner are unknown, said a police spokeswoman on request. It will be determined because of dangerous interference in rail traffic.
The cattle keeper was already in the process of catching his frightened animals after they broke out of the pasture. They were startled again by a dog and fled onto the tracks. There they were hit by an S-Bahn. No one was injured in the accident.
After the incident, the Hennef – Siegburg route had to be closed, and there were a total of 1,485 minutes of delays, which affected 39 trains, according to the federal police. The amount of damage to the railway is still unclear, the animals were said to be worth around 10,000 euros.
Because of the enormous damage and regardless of any civil claims for recourse – either by the train or the cattle owner – the federal police pointed out to dog owners that they must be kept on a leash in the Hennef area. Keepers are liable for their animals.