the sfc report...

SAN FRANCISCO - Commuters are used to traffic backups during the rush-hour commute on the Golden Gate Bridge. But even this had to throw some of them for a loop: An ostrich got loose from a minivan Monday and started roaming around near the toll plaza on the bridge.

Ron Love, the owner of Love Farms, was transporting two of the odd-looking birds in the back of his van. Love was stopped in traffic when he suddenly accelerated, jolting one of the ostriches, who smashed through the back window of the van and got loose on the bridge.

The ostrich began running around on the bridge, stopping traffic for about eight minutes before police were able to move it out of traffic.

"It was quite an adventure," Love said. "Strange things always seem to happen with ostriches. I guess this proves it."