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Kangaroo safely returned home after causing Alabama interstate shutdown

Kangaroo safely returned home after causing Alabama interstate shutdown
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Kangaroo safely returned home after causing Alabama interstate shutdown
A kangaroo is back with its owner after being involved in a crash that caused an Alabama interstate to be shut down Tuesday. The two-vehicle crash happened shortly before noon in the southbound lane near the 46-mile marker of Interstate 85 in Macon County, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The sight snarled traffic, and state troopers shut down both sides of the interstate for the safety of motorists. The animal’s owner and troopers were able to capture it, Capt. Jeremy J. Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said.“When somebody said there was a kangaroo of course I didn’t believe it, and nobody believed it. But I’m looking at him,” Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson said in a Facebook live video as the animal was captured.The owner used a dart to tranquilize the animal.Brunson’s video showed the drugged kangaroo being carried to a vehicle to be returned to its home. The animal was captured on the side of the interstate between Tuskegee and Auburn, the sheriff said.“We see a little bit of everything here,” the sheriff said.The animal’s owner, Patrick Starr, told The Associated Press that the animal’s name is Sheila and that she escaped from her enclosure.“She’s back home safe. She’s up. She’s not sedated anymore. She’s eating. She’s drinking. She’s not injured,” Starr said.The kangaroo was treated by the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, he said.The family runs a pumpkin patch and petting zoo, but Sheila is just a personal pet, Starr said.“She’s a sweet pet. I’m glad she’s back home, and I’m glad everybody slowed down a little bit,” he said.Austin Price, who took video of the animal hopping down the interstate, said he had to briefly question if he was seeing things.“I hear my grandmother yell, ‘Is that a kangaroo?’ ” Price said.He assumed it was probably a deer until he looked. “And yeah, it’s a kangaroo.”

A kangaroo is back with its owner after being involved in a crash that caused an Alabama interstate to be shut down Tuesday.

The two-vehicle crash happened shortly before noon in the southbound lane near the 46-mile marker of Interstate 85 in Macon County, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

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The sight snarled traffic, and state troopers shut down both sides of the interstate for the safety of motorists. The animal’s owner and troopers were able to capture it, Capt. Jeremy J. Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said.

“When somebody said there was a kangaroo of course I didn’t believe it, and nobody believed it. But I’m looking at him,” Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson said in a Facebook live video as the animal was captured.

The owner used a dart to tranquilize the animal.

Brunson’s video showed the drugged kangaroo being carried to a vehicle to be returned to its home. The animal was captured on the side of the interstate between Tuskegee and Auburn, the sheriff said.

“We see a little bit of everything here,” the sheriff said.

The animal’s owner, Patrick Starr, told The Associated Press that the animal’s name is Sheila and that she escaped from her enclosure.

“She’s back home safe. She’s up. She’s not sedated anymore. She’s eating. She’s drinking. She’s not injured,” Starr said.

The kangaroo was treated by the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, he said.

In this image taken from video, a runaway kangaroo moves down a stretch of interstate in Tuskegee, Ala., Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Austin Andrew Price via AP
In this image taken from video, a runaway kangaroo moves down a stretch of interstate in Tuskegee, Ala., Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
kangaroo causes alabama car accident
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The family runs a pumpkin patch and petting zoo, but Sheila is just a personal pet, Starr said.

“She’s a sweet pet. I’m glad she’s back home, and I’m glad everybody slowed down a little bit,” he said.

Austin Price, who took video of the animal hopping down the interstate, said he had to briefly question if he was seeing things.

“I hear my grandmother yell, ‘Is that a kangaroo?’ ” Price said.

He assumed it was probably a deer until he looked. “And yeah, it’s a kangaroo.”