BATMAN
09-06-2005, 03:37 PM
http://www.foxnews.com/images/175826/0_21_083005_ostrich_gg_bridge.jpg
Bay Area commuters got a nice surprise Monday afternoon when an ostrich broke out of a van and began running around on the Golden Gate Bridge.
"It should never have happened," the van's driver, Ronald Love, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "The ostrich's butt broke the window. You never would think an ostrich could fit through a little window, but she did."
Love and his business partner Bibiana Goodrich had bought two ostriches in Watsonville, about 90 miles south of San Francisco, and were hauling them to their organic farm in Healdsburg, about 70 miles north of the city.
"We've never had an ostrich on the bridge before," said California Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Wayne Ziese. "This is a first."
At about 4:45 p.m. PDT, the van sped up as it drove through the tollbooths onto the southern end of the bridge, and Love and Goodrich suddenly heard smashing glass. They looked behind them to see one ostrich, and one back window, gone.
"It kind of fell backwards through the window," Goodrich told Bay City News. "The next thing, we looked out, I said, 'The ostrich is on the Golden Gate Bridge.' I felt awful."
Ziese told Bay City News that an officer on the bridge investigating another matter suddenly looked up to see an ostrich "taller than he is."
The ornery ostrich ran into the southbound lanes and between cars slowing down to pay the toll, stopping traffic in both directions.
Bridge police officers, CHP officers, Love and a tow truck driver all began chasing the wayward bird, as the ever-present Golden Gate Bridge tourists happily snapped photographs.
"Apparently everybody was hooting and hollering," Ziese laughed to Bay City News.
After about 10 minutes, the bird was herded into the bridge's tow-truck garage. Goodrich pulled the van into the tow area, where helpful bridge workers patched up the broken window with rope and wood before placing the ostrich back inside.
"It was quite an adventure," Love told the Chronicle. "Strange things always seem to happen with ostriches. I guess this proves it."
Apart from what Ziese termed "minor road rash," the ostrich, which had been destined for slaughter before Love and Goodrich bought her, was unhurt.
Goodrich told Bay Area News she and Love had come up with the perfect name for her — "Goldie."
Bay Area commuters got a nice surprise Monday afternoon when an ostrich broke out of a van and began running around on the Golden Gate Bridge.
"It should never have happened," the van's driver, Ronald Love, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "The ostrich's butt broke the window. You never would think an ostrich could fit through a little window, but she did."
Love and his business partner Bibiana Goodrich had bought two ostriches in Watsonville, about 90 miles south of San Francisco, and were hauling them to their organic farm in Healdsburg, about 70 miles north of the city.
"We've never had an ostrich on the bridge before," said California Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Wayne Ziese. "This is a first."
At about 4:45 p.m. PDT, the van sped up as it drove through the tollbooths onto the southern end of the bridge, and Love and Goodrich suddenly heard smashing glass. They looked behind them to see one ostrich, and one back window, gone.
"It kind of fell backwards through the window," Goodrich told Bay City News. "The next thing, we looked out, I said, 'The ostrich is on the Golden Gate Bridge.' I felt awful."
Ziese told Bay City News that an officer on the bridge investigating another matter suddenly looked up to see an ostrich "taller than he is."
The ornery ostrich ran into the southbound lanes and between cars slowing down to pay the toll, stopping traffic in both directions.
Bridge police officers, CHP officers, Love and a tow truck driver all began chasing the wayward bird, as the ever-present Golden Gate Bridge tourists happily snapped photographs.
"Apparently everybody was hooting and hollering," Ziese laughed to Bay City News.
After about 10 minutes, the bird was herded into the bridge's tow-truck garage. Goodrich pulled the van into the tow area, where helpful bridge workers patched up the broken window with rope and wood before placing the ostrich back inside.
"It was quite an adventure," Love told the Chronicle. "Strange things always seem to happen with ostriches. I guess this proves it."
Apart from what Ziese termed "minor road rash," the ostrich, which had been destined for slaughter before Love and Goodrich bought her, was unhurt.
Goodrich told Bay Area News she and Love had come up with the perfect name for her — "Goldie."