Chickens Everywhere After Semi-Truck Rollover

Early Monday morning, a serious crash on I-5 near DuPont highlighted the persistent dangers of driver fatigue. Around 1 a.m., the driver of a chicken transport truck apparently fell asleep near milepost 116, causing the vehicle to overturn. The accident spread poultry across three lanes, with crates destroyed, feathers scattered, and at least 200 chickens killed.

State Patrol officers worked to round up the surviving birds while a local organization from Mount Vernon collected the live animals. Northbound traffic was heavily delayed, with congestion stretching back to Lacey, finally clearing by approximately 9:30 a.m.

Driver fatigue is a well-known risk in the trucking industry. Studies indicate that operating a vehicle beyond eight hours sharply increases the likelihood of accidents. Surveys suggest that one in five long-haul truckers admit to nodding off at least once a month, and national data show that less than four hours of sleep dramatically raises the danger on the road.

The cause of this particular incident remains uncertain, whether due to pressure from deadlines or exhaustion from long hours. What is clear is that when heavy trucks lose control, the consequences can be severe. In this case, it was chickens; next time, it could be far more serious.

Author: Sophia Brooks