South Carolina Troopers Lasso Runaway Pig, Reopen Interstate 26

South Carolina Highway Patrol has released dashboard and body-camera footage showing two troopers removing a loose pig that had brought traffic to a halt on Interstate 26 near Chapin, about 24 miles northwest of Columbia. The video, recorded on June 27 and published this week, shows Trooper Matthew Bullard and Corporal Clifton Nelson pursuing the animal along the median and briefly closing lanes to protect motorists and the pig. Bullard, who grew up on a farm, eventually grabbed the pig by a hind leg and carried it to the shoulder, allowing traffic to resume within minutes, the department said. No injuries were reported. A deputy from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department later arranged for the animal to be adopted by a family member. Wild and feral pigs are common across South Carolina, and transportation officials say animal incursions pose recurring safety risks on high-speed roadways. The patrol urged drivers to slow down and alert authorities rather than attempt to handle animals on their own.