Elephant-Transport Circus Truck Crash in Mississippi
A truck transporting circus elephants crashed off Interstate-10 in Mississippi Sunday night. The driver lost control of the large vehicle and was forced off the highway after attempting to dodge a car that merged into its lane. Neither the elephants nor the driver suffered injuries. They escaped unscathed and a bit shook up.
English: The eye of an asian elephant at Elephant Nature Park, Thailand Deutsch: Das Auge eines indischen Elefanten im Elephant Nature Park, Thailand (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Hugo, OK resident Terence Crowley was hauling elephants in a large animal transport truck trailer when a vehicle darted right in front of him. He lost control of the truck, which drove off the highway and into the woods of the 8-mile marker of Hancock County, Mississippi Highway Patrol Master Sgt. Johnny Poulos told Sun Herald.
MHP was notified about the crash at around 11:30 p.m. When they arrived they noticed the truck trailer was resting at the edge of a tree line. It had traveled down and embankment, which caused the front axle of the large vehicle to break.
Elephant in a circus presentation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The vehicle had been traveling westbound towards Hammond, LA after leaving, Firefighter Kurt Necaise of West Hancock Fire Rescue, based in Pearlington told the publication.
“The truck and the trailer remained upright,” Necaise said. “It took us a couple of hours to clear the scene.”
With help of elephant handlers and owners, firefighters helped off-load the animals from the trailer and held them along the side of the highway. “They were a little shook up and scared. One of the elephants was so mad they just kept it in the trailer,” Necaise told WLOX.
After being unloaded, four elephants followed the instructions of one of the handlers and a leading elephant. They walked behind each other in a single line holding the tail of the elephant in front. Various pictures of the odd crash scene were taken by first responders and are available online.
The truck was totaled and state troopers reported that the elephants were placed back on the trailer and a tow truck then transported to the state line where other arrangements were made for them to reach their destination. According to Necaise, the elephants are part of Coleman Bro. Circus of the Stars.
Combined, according to WLOX, all the elephants are reportedly worth at least $6 million dollars.
An accident while transporting any animal could have a serious outcome – especially when there are drivers on public roads that fail to follow the law. If you have you been involved in a truck accident that was not your fault while transporting your pet or any other animal, you may qualify to receive compensation!
Contact an expert attorney today!
English: Elephant In a circus which was in a field at Millbrook on the Larne to Belfast Road. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Reviewed by Chris H. in 2012.