Truck Accident Dumps Thousands of Chickens onto Buffalo Thruway

By Aaron Poehler

Published on August 07, 2008

A truck carrying nearly 10,000 chickens bound for Mississauga, Ontario tipped over on the offramp from the Mainline Thruway today, spilling thousands of chickens and eggs onto the roadway.

Truck driver Stanley P. Chesney, 47, suffered abrasions to his left arm and leg in the accident and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) workers were called in to round up the escaped birds and clear the road. While eyewitnesses reported many chickens were killed in the wreck, an exact number has not been released; the surviving birds were taken to the Erie County SPCA in the town of Tonawanda for medical evaluations. An SPCA spokesman reported that says the trucking company, Ontario Inc. of Walkerton, Ontario, Canada will be liable for the costs of the checkups.

The ramp to the 190 northbound was closed to traffic for nearly two hours during cleanup of the accident. The cause of the wreck has not yet been determined, though officials on the scene noted that early indications pointed to unsafe speed or lane change as likely factors, as Chesney reportedly said he was distracted while attempting to change lanes before losing control.

 

Comment on this article →