Three Sea Lions Involved in Vehicle Crash on I-70 in Boone County
BOONE COUNTY, MO — At approximately 3 a.m. on August 13, three sea lions traveling to the Missouri State Fair were involved in a vehicle crash on Interstate 70.
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, a 2015 Peterbilt 389 semi-truck veered off the left side of the roadway and struck a concrete median barrier. The 59-year-old male driver from Mansfield, Ohio, escaped uninjured, while a 27-year-old female passenger from Harper, Texas, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a hospital.
Veterinarians from the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center responded to assess the sea lions, confirming that they were unharmed.
In light of the incident, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called for the Missouri State Fair to prohibit animal performances. PETA Foundation Director of Captive Wildlife Advocacy, Klayton Rutherford, criticized the practice of traveling with marine animals under cramped conditions.
The Missouri State Fair announced via their Facebook page that the Sea Lion Splash shows have been canceled due to the crash. PETA has previously reported that the current owner of Sea Lion Splash has faced multiple citations for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, raising concerns about the treatment of the animals involved.