MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (WCHS) — A dog rescued from a fatal crash on Interstate 64 in West Virginia has been reunited with her family in Iowa.
Hennessey, the dog of 63-year-old Jeffrey Carl Simons, who died in a tractor-trailer collision on June 23, was brought back home following efforts by multiple animal welfare organizations. According to the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, Simons' truck crashed and caught fire at the Dunbar-South Charleston Bridge, and Hennessey was rescued from the wreckage.
After learning that Hennessey was safe at the shelter, Simons' family expressed their desire to keep her. Reconnect efforts involved FaceTime calls and coordination among the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown, and other local supporters.
Simons' family traveled from Iowa to West Virginia earlier this week and successfully brought Hennessey home on Saturday, as confirmed by the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown. The organizations noted that the distance between the two shelters is approximately 800 miles.
“Welcome home, sweet Hennessey,” the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown stated on social media. “We wish you many more years of adventures, belly rubs, and making memories with the family who never stopped loving you.”
Authorities stated that the investigation surrounding the crash is ongoing.