By Greg Welter
Chico Enterprise-Record
ORLAND, Calif. — Investigators said a girl who went missing early Thursday night, and was found nearly almost hours later in a pasture west of Orland, may have been head-butted by a cow and knocked unconscious.
Glenn County Sheriff’s Lt. Rich Warren said it’s possible a cow was protecting her calves and charged the girl, identified as Jessica H. Juelch, 11.
The girl had been seen at about 6 p.m. walking in the pasture and along a canal on property owned by her relatives, on County Road 200 near County Road E.
Family members looked for her for more than an hour, before calling authorities about 7:30 p.m.
She was found conscious and suffering from a head injury just after 9 p.m. It’s unknown how long she had been unconscious.
Juelch was transported by helicopter to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.
Her condition Friday afternoon was unavailable. The Sheriff’s Office said she had been in the trauma ward Friday morning with a concussion.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, hospital personnel said the girl was still unsure about what caused her injury.
The Sheriff’s Office called out all available deputies to look for the girl, activated a search and rescue team, and asked for help from the California Highway Patrol.
Warren said the county was preparing to activate its reverse 9-1-1 alert system, advising area residents that the girl was missing, when she was located.
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