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Car Crash With Cow Almost Kills North Texas Veteran

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WISE COUNTY (CBDFW.COM) - A veteran who survived a tour in Afghanistan and another in Iraq almost died after a freak accident with a cow on a North Texas highway.

"It was a black cow, it was after dark. I didn't see it until the last second. There was nothing you could do but hit it," said military veteran Robert Reichert. "My first thought was – I'm fixing to die."

He knows danger. During his first tour overseas, he transported thousands of gallons of fuel from post to post through heavy fire. But it was a run in with a 1500 pound cow that almost killed him. The animal flew over his Pontiac G6, landing 100 yards down the road.

car-crash
A cow flipped over Robert Reichert's car. (credit: CBS11 News)

"My first thought was wow two tours overseas in a war zone no problem... to come home and be taken out by a cow," said his wife Laura.

As an army wife she was prepared for that kind of call when Reichert was overseas – but not at home.

Veteran
Robert Reichert during one of his tours of duty. (credit: CBS11 News)

"I didn't have any words, there were no words other than thank God," she said.

Reichert suffered a broken nose. He broke and dislocated his elbow and still has pieces of glass in his arm. The front of his car was nearly flattened.

Reichert's family has created a go fund me page to help get them through the vet's recovery.

♦♦♦ROBERT REICHERT GoFundMe♦♦♦

They are also hoping the owner of the cow, who has yet to come forward will do the right thing.

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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