BYRON CENTER, Mich. — A bull was killed Tuesday after it escaped a livestock trailer on US-131 and ran loose through the Byron Center area, authorities said.

The incident began around 10:30 a.m. on northbound US-131 near 76th Street, when a bull and a cow broke free from a livestock trailer and began running along the highway. The animals then headed down an off-ramp and onto Caterpillar Court, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies attempted to catch the animals for more than 40 minutes. The cow was eventually captured and loaded back into the trailer, but the bull broke through a fence and headed back toward US-131.

During the effort, a woman with cattle experience was trampled by the bull while attempting to help capture it, deputies said. She walked away with only scrapes and bruises.

The owner of the animals and deputies ultimately agreed to euthanize the bull after it reportedly became more aggressive. A supervisor with the Kent County Sheriff's Office used a patrol rifle to kill the animal.

"It was an unfortunate outcome, but after repeated attempts to safely contain the bull, it became necessary to protect the public," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

No further injuries were reported in the incident.