US50 reopens after 77 cows wrangled after escape from jackknifed big rig

10:15 p.m. update: US50 is now open in both directions. The last of the cows were wrangled and removed from the roadway.

77 cows were on the cattle truck when it jackknifed.

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9:00 p.m. update: CHP reports US50 is still closed and they estimate it will reopen by 10:00 p.m.

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It isn't the snow over Echo Summit that is hampering the Wednesday night drive on Highway 50 east of Placerville, its the cows and a jackknifed big rig near Apple Cafe and Carson Road.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) announced the closure for eastbound traffic from Smith Flat Rd to Carson Road at 4:30 p.m. There is an alternate route available on Carson Road at this time.

It appears the cows came from the jackknifed big rig.

There are also numerous spin-outs in the same area. Use caution and slow down on the highway.

No other information is available at this time.

For up to the minute road information, visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.