Escaped horse, mule briefly shut down Bay Area highway

Commuters on Monday were stunned to see a white horse and a brown mule running across Interstate 680.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WALNUT CREEK - That mustang in the rearview mirror turned out to be a real horse running on a San Francisco Bay Area highway - followed by a mule.

East Bay commuters on Monday were stunned to see a white horse and a brown mule running across Interstate 680.

Steve Burdo with Contra Costa County Animal Services says the animals broke through a fence about a mile away.

The pair adhered to the vehicle code and used an on-ramp to get on the highway.

Authorities shut down lanes shortly before 7:30 a.m. as motorists shot cellphone video and officers rounded up the four-legged fugitives.

Burdo says the horse, a gelding named Striker, appears to have led the breakout. He says Hank the mule is more of a follower.

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