New Details About Vehicle Accident Involving 5,164 Live Chickens

SOUTHBURY, CT — A Pennsylvania man was driving a tractor-trailer carrying 5,164 live chickens that rolled over on Interstate 84 in Southbury early Saturday morning causing the highway to be shutdown for several hours, State Police said. As of 12:30 p.m. the accident has been cleared.

Estanisiao Garcia-Lopez, 49, of Marietta, PA was traveling on I-84 eastbound in the right lane about a half-mile east of Exit 11 in Newtown. For an unknown reason, the driver merged into the right shoulder and struck the cement barrier, which caused the tractor-trailer to rollover on its passenger side, State Police said.

Newtown and Southbury Fire Departments and EMS responded. Several state agencies including the Department of Agriculture responded to the scene and to inspect the chickens and ducks.

The driver wasn't injured. The driver was issued an infraction for failure to maintain lane.

The accident occurred at 6:05 a.m. and both travel lanes are closed.

SOUTHBURY, CT — A tractor-trailer accident involving more than 5,000 live chickens has caused a major traffic tie-up on Interstate 84 in Southbury Saturday morning, State Police said.

By Exit 13 on the eastbound side of 84 only the left shoulder is open after a tractor-trailer rolled over and leaked fuel, State Police said. Crews are removing the trailer and all of the chickens and crates and fuel.

Several local and state agencies are on scene. Travel lanes will be closed until after noon. One person suffered minor injuries.