The Chattanooga Fire Department worked for nearly 90 minutes Tuesday to remove an injured driver from an overturned tractor-trailer carrying chickens on I-24, west of Cummings Highway.
According to a news release, the crash happened at 1:06 p.m. and Local 3 News reported that traffic was first blocked in both directions on the interstate and later just in the eastbound lanes.
In pictures shared by the Fire Department, chickens are seen scattered all over the road and median after the truck reportedly struck a guardrail before flipping into the median. A large wrecker was called to the scene to aid in stabilizing the truck to help remove the driver, who was later transported to a local hospital.
Most of the chickens are dead, but some are still alive. Officials tweeted that representatives from a poultry plant were on their way to catch the ones that survived and help clean up the roadway.
“We appreciate drivers’ patience as crews work this incident,” Lindsey Rogers said in a statement from the fire department.
– Compiled by Tierra Hayes
The CFD is working to extricate the driver of a tractor trailer following a crash on Interstate 24 EB. The semi carrying chickens reportedly struck the guardrail & flipped in the median, trapping the driver in the cab and sending chickens all over the road. pic.twitter.com/bes6zhGPYg
— Chattanooga Fire Department (@ChattFireDept) May 31, 2022