"I could see the steer lying on his back."

California firefighters, police, and veterinarians worked through the night on Saturday to save a steer caught up in a traffic accident.

The trailer the steer was riding in was mangled in the accident, leaving the animal trapped inside.

Laura Blanton was one of the rescuers.

"I could see the steer lying on his back with legs tangled and the dividing gates of trailer and head in the feeder department in the front of the trailer so there was no way to get out without removing the top of the trailer."

The vets tranquilized the 1500 pound steer to keep him calm during the complicated rescue.

Crews had to cut the top of the trailer...then it took five firefighters to pull the steer to the roadway.

"This is one of those special calls you'll probably remember till you retire, probably till the day you die hopefully you made the difference in life of a steer and you don't get to say that very often," says Battalion Chief Matt Moore.

Veterinarians say its amazing the the steer survived the crash.

UPDATE:
The steer was loaded into another trailer which made it safely to the slaughter house.
To show his appreciation, the steers owner sent ten pounds of steaks to the rescuers.
The steer was last reported to be delicious.