PERRY TWP, Lawrence County — State police say a wayward cow was to blame for an early morning crash Thursday near the Lawrence-Butler County line that left one person injured.

The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was hurt about 1:15 a.m. when his vehicle struck the cow, which was standing in the middle of Route 488 north of Pfeifer Road in Perry Township, authorities said.

The driver was eastbound on Route 488 near the McClymonds trucking company. The initial call, which came into the Butler County Communications Center, reported the man was out of his vehicle and “laying in grass.”

Noga Ambulance was called and took the man to an unspecified hospital. The extent of his injuries was not known.

The cow was killed, police said. The owner was notified and later removed the animal.

A police accident report is still pending and the investigating officer was unavailable following the crash.

The Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department assisted police at the scene. Emergency crews remained there until about 4 a.m., according to Lawrence County 911 dispatchers.