Four cows were killed Saturday evening after being hit by a vehicle traveling on Dogwood Road about one mile north of the Warren County line, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

The cows had gotten loose from a pasture on U.S. 61 South and had wandered for more than a mile before being hit, Pace said.

The cows’ owner, Curtis Massey of Raymond, said someone had left the gates open. Massey said the pasture holds about 50 head of cattle. This is the second time in about a year cows wandered from the pasture. About a year ago a section of fence around the pasture was cut, but the cows were returned later without incident.

The incident is under investigation.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol was in charge of the scene, but did not return phone calls seeking comment.