12 cows fall off cliff, die near Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE - A dozen cows died Sunday morning after falling off a rock cliff and onto the shoulder of state Route 17 about 10 miles north of Soap Lake.

According to State Trooper Darren Wright, the group of cattle were moving down a gully and across the ledge of the highway just before 10 a.m. Sunday.

First responders initially responded to the area for reports of rocks on road because of the cattle on the cliff's edge. The road was closed before the cows began falling off the edge. All 12 cows that fell died at the scene.

The highway was reopened about 3:30 p.m. Wright said no vehicles were damaged in the incident. The State Patrol used an aircraft to check the area and ensure there were no wildfires that may have forced the cattle to move that direction. Wright said it was unclear why the cows made their way to the ledge.

-Staff report