KENESAW, Neb. - If you've ever driven in Nebraska at night you've likely had to dodge the occasional deer or raccoon, but what drivers saw in Adams County Wednesday night left them stunned.

Police responded at 11:30 p.m. to a single-car crash on U.S. Highway 6 near Kenesaw and found the cause: a wallaby.

Authorities said the three-foot tall marsupial was a family pet that had escaped from its home and made its way onto the highway.

The wallaby was killed in the crash, with the driver suffering no injuries.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission temporarily took custody of the wallaby after the crash, before eventually returning the animal to its owner, according to authorities.

Game and Parks told News Channel Nebraska that wallabies are legal to import and own without a permit as long as local municipalities approve.

Adams County officials said the wallaby’s owner lives in Juniata, several miles from where the crash occurred, and added that the county has never been approached about importing a wallaby.

One representative from the Village of Juniata also said they’ve never received any requests regarding exotic animal ownership, and were unaware of any wallabies or similar animals living in the community.

Wallabies are often mistaken for their larger cousin, the kangaroo. Both species are native to Australia and part of the macropod family.