Macon County, Alabama – A kangaroo on the loose caused a two-vehicle crash and forced the temporary closure of a section of Interstate 85 between Tuskegee and Auburn on Tuesday.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency confirmed that the kangaroo hopped into traffic, leading to chaos on the highway. No injuries were reported.

Macon County Sheriff André Brunson livestreamed the incident on Facebook as the animal was tranquilized and captured by its owner.

“When somebody said there was a kangaroo of course I didn’t believe it, and nobody believed it. But I’m looking at him,” Brunson said.

The kangaroo had escaped from a petting zoo in Lee County. Brunson added, “We were chasing him for quite a while. Traffic was stopped a long ways.”

Laura Hagen, director of captive wildlife at Humane World for Animals, responded to the incident with a statement.

She said, “Whether in a roadside petting zoo or kept as a pet in someone’s backyard, captivity is no place for a kangaroo.”

Hagen noted that kangaroos and wallabies have been involved in at least 74 documented escapes since 2010, resulting in at least 17 animal deaths.

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