Motorist dies after car hits stray bull

Aug 28 2009 by Lisa Boyle

A STRAY bull killed a car passenger when it escaped on to the road.

John Hodge, 52, died when the Toyota car he was travelling in smashed into the bull and flipped on to its roof.

The horrific accident happened just after 10pm last night on the A77 at Smithstone Bridge between Minishant and Maybole.

The driver of the car received minor injuries.

Mr Hodge, from Girvan, had recently become a grandfather.

His devastated colleagues at the FMC factory in the town were told about the crash this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 10.12pm.

Three cars hit the bull which was roaming on the road having escaped from a nearby field.

An Audi was the first car to strike the animal.

Moments later a Renault Clio came along and hit it.

Following that, the Toyota Mr Hodge was a front seat passenger in came along and struck the bull.

He died at the scene.

Three men and a woman were treated at the scene for trauma before being taken by ambulance to Ayr Hospital.

The road was closed until 4am this morning.