An East Texas deputy was critically injured after he was attacked by an injured cow.

Smith County Deputy Robert Britton of Tyler responded to a call early Thursday about a cow hit by a vehicle near Bullard, about 90 miles southeast of Dallas, according to KLTV.

The 54-year-old deputy was directing traffic on County Road 344 when the cow charged him. He was knocked into the air, landed on his head and "then the animal continued the assault," the sheriff told reporters.

Other deputies rescued Britton, who was in critical condition in intensive care at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

The sheriff said the cow was put down after the attack.