TITLE: Semi Crash on I-45 Near Dallas Leads to Pig Rescue
META: A semi truck flipped on I-45 south of Dallas, scattering pigs onto the highway. Authorities worked for hours to round them up after the early morning crash.
EXCERPT: A truck crash on I-45 south of Dallas resulted in the spill of dozens of pigs onto the highway, leading to a lengthy cleanup and lane closures.
ALT: A semi truck overturned on I-45, spilling pigs onto the roadway, while emergency responders worked to manage the situation.
ARTICLE:
Dozens of pigs found themselves on the loose after a semi truck overturned on Interstate 45, prompting a closure of the highway for several hours south of Dallas on Thursday. The crash occurred around 6:45 a.m. between Pleasant Run Road and Belt Line Road in Wilmer.
The truck, which was transporting approximately 195 pigs, flipped onto its side, spilling the animals onto the roadway, according to Lt. Eric Pon of the Wilmer police department. Law enforcement and emergency responders dedicated hours to corralling the pigs, with some straying nearly half a mile from the scene.
“The biggest challenge was corralling the pigs, keeping them from oncoming traffic and getting run over,” said Pon.
Luckily, the driver of the 18-wheeler was uninjured, though it remains unclear if any of the livestock sustained injuries. Firefighters assisted by spraying water on the pigs to keep them cool in the heat.
Northbound lanes of I-45 reopened around 11:20 a.m., allowing traffic to resume. By approximately 3:30 p.m., the southbound lanes were also cleared for travel.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.