Koala was rescued after an accumulation of 5 cars on the Australian highway

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – A koala was rescued after causing an accumulation of five cars while trying to cross a six-lane highway in southern Australia.

Police said the heavy traffic accident on Monday morning in the city of Adelaide caused some injuries, but no one needed an ambulance.

The animal’s rescuer said he got out of the car to investigate what caused the pile. Nadia Tugwell, coat in hand, teamed up with a stranger gathering a blanket in an attempt to capture the marsupial. A concrete highway divider had blocked the koala’s passage.

“The koala was not damaged in any way,” Tugwell said. “He was very active, but very calm.”

Once the koala was in her trunk, Tugwell drove to a gas station to hand the animal over to the wild rescuers. Meanwhile, the koala was able to climb from the trunk into the cabin of her SUV.

“He decided to come in front of me, so I said, ‘OK, stay here. I will go out, “she said.

“He started driving for a while: (as if) saying, ‘Let’s drive,’ and then I started taking pictures,” she added.

Tugwell said he learned from past experience how to calm the koala by covering his eyes. He lives near a eucalyptus forest outside Adelaide and has twice called for animal maneuvers to save wounded koalas in battles with other koalas.

“They live in the hills, and if you let them do what they want to do and you don’t follow them or anything, I’m fine,” Tugwell said.

The leather trim of her luxury vehicle was scratched by the animal, but Tugwell said the happy ending is well worth the damage.

The koala was later released into a forest – far from the highway.