Santa Barbara County Man Injured By Cow

A 65-year-old man is hospitalized with moderate injuries after being charged and pinned by a cow during a branding operation.

The accident happened at 10:15 Wednesday morning near the intersection of Highway 166 and Cottonwood Canyon on the North Fork Ranch in the Cuyama valley.

Santa Barbara County Fire crews from Station 41 responded to the call of a traumatic injury.

Public Information Officer Mike Eliason said the cow shoved the ranch employee up against the corral, causing chest and upper body injuries and difficulty breathing.

A helicopter with County Air Operations was called out to the remote site, and flew the injured man to Cottage Hospital’s trauma center.