A big rig carrying hundreds of live chickens crashed into an overpass support on westbound I-80 in San Pablo early Thursday, leading to all westbound lanes being shut down as crews assessed the stability of the overpass. Also, the truck caught fire and many of chickens died in the blaze, leading to a lot of awkward and sad local news broadcasts in front of the mess.
As NBC Bay Area reports, the crash occurred around 3:35 a.m., and the driver of the truck apparently crashed into the San Pablo Dam Road overpass, and then veered back, colliding with a car and coming to a stop at the median. The truck caught fire, and after extinguishing the blaze, engineers were called in to assess "the integrity of the overpass," the station reports, leading to all westbound lanes closing just as the morning rush hour was about to start.
There were reportedly "chickens everywhere" as first responders arrived at the scene, per Bay City News, and the truck was fully engulfed in flames. Both drivers were reportedly OK after the crash, and the driver of the big rig was transported to a hospital with minor injuries.
ABC 7's Amy Hollyfield was at the scene, and had this video after sunrise, with the westbound lanes entirely closed.
This is the big rig that was carrying about 1,000 chickens when it crashed and caught fire. Story here- https://t.co/0VuyhCgA4I pic.twitter.com/i3mfrOoTqU
— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) September 5, 2019
More pics from the fiery crash on I-80 at San Pablo Dam Road. Most of the live chickens on board died, but about 50 are still wandering around the freeway. @EHarringtonTV @VaughanChip https://t.co/dUgMXGNSJm pic.twitter.com/TxK3x6hqol
— KTVU (@KTVU) September 5, 2019
Animal control says they have collected about 200 live chickens on I-80 at San Pablo Dam Road.
— KTVU (@KTVU) September 5, 2019
The poultry was on its way to a processing plant. https://t.co/dUgMXGNSJm
Not all of the chickens were killed, and some even ran away and tried to gain their freedom. Some local friends of animals managed to rescue a few saying they are "not gonna be made into a #chickensandwich."
โNina, Open the carrier door.โ
— Denis Ivan Perez (@dpi_19) September 5, 2019
Some environmentalists took the chance and rescued some chickens ๐ during the I-80 accident. My mans came barefoot ๐ฆถ#I80 #chickens
not gonna be made into a #chickensandwich #SanPablo pic.twitter.com/oIynoT7ImI
One of the survivors of a big rig fire this morning. The truck overturned and caught fire on westbound 80 in San Pablo. It was hauling chickens- some died, some ran away (!) and others have been rescued by CHP officers. pic.twitter.com/YSNE9HhM2h
— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) September 5, 2019