A runaway emu that had its legs cuffed by police after running onto a Victorian highway has died.
The bird was "crash-tackled" by a police officer as it tried to run into traffic on the Princes Highway at Newborough, in the state's south-east, on Saturday night.
Locals unsuccessfully tried to round up the emu, before police tried to catch it in their police car.
The birds can run at speeds of 48km/h.
A plucky police officer then crash-tackled the tiring bird and slapped cuffs on its legs to prevent it kicking out.
"A vet was also on scene to assist but sadly the emu died due to what is believed to be stress from the incident," a police spokesman said in a statement on Monday.
The police officer who tackled and cuffed the bird is said to be devastated by the animal's death.
Acting Senior Sergeant Jason Hullick said police had to intervene to prevent a crash.
"Then [the officer] made a split-second decision to grab the emu and ... the emu obviously died from that," Acting Senior Sergeant Hullick told radio station 3AW.
"It certainly wasn't his intention. He certainly meant well. He's very upset actually."
The police officer suffered cuts and bruises.
AAP, with Marissa Calligeros
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