South Carolina drivers got more than just brake lights during Friday traffic. On June 27, 2025, a runaway pig brought Interstate 26 in Chapin to a squealing halt. The sight? A full-blown chase with two South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers sprinting after a pig like it had just robbed a bank.

It all started when drivers spotted the pig trotting down the median of the busy highway. Phones came out. Horns blared. The pig, totally unbothered, kept running. That is when Troopers Matthew Bullard and Clifton Nelson showed up to take control of the mess.

@abcnews Frantic footage captured the moment two South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers saved a pig from the middle of the state’s busiest interstate. After a short foot chase, the pig was rescued without injury and the troopers were able to get traffic moving again, authorities said. #southcarolina #pigs #animals ♬ original sound - ABC News

Bullard had a secret weapon: A background on a farm. That came in handy fast. While traffic crawled to a stop, the officers tried to corner the little guy. The pig juked left, dodged right, and kept slipping through. It was pure comedy in uniform.

Finally, Bullard used his farm smarts. He caught up to the pig and grabbed it by the hind leg, ending the great escape. No injuries, no damage, just a red-faced trooper holding a confused pig. Nelson couldn’t stop laughing. Bullard called it one of the funniest calls of his career.

ABC News / The pig wasn’t hurt. A relative of a Richland County deputy stepped up to give it a home.

So, instead of a pound, this pig got a pasture. It is now living far from the roar of highway traffic.

ABC News shared the footage, and the internet did what it does best. Over 1,500 comments poured in. One viewer joked, “Why are they chasing the pig like it owes them money?!” Others turned it into instant meme material. The video made its rounds fast, and soon people across the country were talking about the South Carolina pig that outran the law.

But this wasn’t the first time South Carolina had gone hog wild. Back in 2021, a giant wild boar named "Papa Pig" caused a similar scene. That chase also went viral and proved just how unpredictable traffic can be in the Palmetto State.

Loose Pigs Frequently Create Bizarre Traffic Hazards

Wild pigs are not just funny internet stars. They are becoming a real problem in South Carolina. These animals are spreading across every county. They destroy farmland, dig up yards, and even threaten local wildlife. For farmers, it is a costly headache. For drivers, it is a bizarre traffic hazard.

Freepik / The problem keeps growing. Wild hogs reproduce fast, and without serious control efforts, they multiply like crazy.

South Carolina wildlife officials have been tracking the rise for years. And while a highway chase might go viral, the bigger issue is no laughing matter.

Still, moments like this help bring attention to the problem. People who had no idea about the wild pig population are now watching a funny clip and learning something new. It is strange, but it works. A pig on the run might just raise more awareness than a press release ever could.

The troopers say they are glad no one got hurt. They handled the situation with humor, skill, and a bit of farm-style wrestling. Bullard proved that even highway patrol training sometimes needs a touch of old-school pig-catching know-how.

South Carolina keeps surprising people. One minute, it is all pine trees and barbecue, and he next, you are stuck in traffic watching a trooper chase a pig through rush hour. It is the kind of moment that sticks with you.

And who knows? With wild pigs taking over the state, this might not be the last time South Carolina troopers get called into pig-wrangling duty.