State Police Shoot And Kill Emu On Rt. 422

UPPER PROVIDENCE, PA — Pennsylvania State Police shot and killed an emu that disrupted traffic along Route 422 on Wednesday. The bird had escaped from an enclosure nearby earlier that morning.

According to officers, the bird presented a "significant hazard" to motorists on the road.

The improbable appearance of the huge bird trotting in the middle of the roadway led to both lanes of traffic being shut down. The bird quickly became an Internet sensation and was even recognized on the Collegeville Bakery marquee.

>>Possible Emu Gets Loose On 422, Wreaks Havoc On Traffic

Police in Upper Providence had been attempting to track down the bird since it escaped at around 9 a.m.

Videos from the scene showed multiple state and local police cruisers on 422 working to surround the bird.

"The emu ultimately died as a result of actions taken by the police to ensure the safety of the motoring public," the state police barracks in Skippack said in an incident report.

Emus are native to Australia. The bird was the pet of a nearby resident, police said.