(UPDATE, 2:12 p.m.) The semi-trailer overturned due to mechanical failure, and the driver sustained minor injuries.
The estimated 1,600 piglets belonged to producers at the Hutterite community in Milford Colony, about twenty minutes away from where the accident happened, and were headed to Iowa.
Madelyn Heath reports from the crash site:
The Montana Department of Livestock and the producers loaded up the live animals to take back to their farm. The deceased animals will also return to the farm to be used as oil and fertilizer.
Wolf Creek Fire was one of the first responding agencies, and Wolf Creek Fire Chief Rocky Infanger said, "Our two biggest things were trying to contain the contents of the semi trailer and keep traffic flow moving, and we are keeping the traffic moving and we are getting the animals contained."
He noted, "We had our dispatch notify the Hutterite community these pigs originated from, and they have come down and been assisting in transporting the animals off-site."
(1st REPORT, 9:14 a.m.) A livestock transport semi-trailer carrying pigs has crashed on I-15 near Wolf Creek. An MTN News reporter drove by the overturned trailer and saw live and dead pigs on the interstate.
The crash happened at about 7:50 a.m. on Monday near mile marker 225 on the southbound lane near the Wolf Creek exit.
Video from the scene (viewer discretion advised):
The Montana Department of Transportation says that southbound lanes are blocked, and likely will remain closed for several hours.
There is no word at this point on whether any people have been injured, nor the suspected cause of the crash.
We will update you if we get more information.
