THIBODAUX -- A Lafourche Parish Sheriff's deputy struck and killed a cow that wandered into the road on La. 1 near West 103rd Street in Galliano this morning.

Deputy Ryan Perera was returning to the Sheriff's Office's Galliano Sub-station around 3 a.m., when he hit the cow. Perera received minor injuries and was transported by South Lafourche Ambulance to Lady of the Sea Hospital. He has since been released, according to Lafourche Sheriff's spokesman Larry Weidel.

The cow died instantly, Weidel said, adding he did not know how the animal managed to get on the highway.