LAKE STATION, Ind. — A truck driver crashed on an Interstate 80 ramp Tuesday morning, scattering crates of live chickens across the roadway before leaving the scene, according to Indiana State Police.
Troopers were called to the eastbound I-80 ramp leading to I-90 near the 15-mile marker shortly after 10 a.m. Investigators said a Volvo semi struck a concrete median wall, causing 28 poultry crates to fall onto the ramp.
Each crate contained approximately eight chickens. Some of the birds were killed in the crash, while others escaped and moved around the roadway as emergency crews worked to secure the area.
The Indiana Toll Road assisted with moving the surviving chickens to a shaded location. Lake County Animal Control, the Humane Society and a local animal rescue organization also responded and took custody of the birds.
The driver had left the scene before troopers arrived, police said. Authorities have not publicly identified the trucking company, the truck’s owner or the person who was driving it.
Cleanup and Damage Costs Remain Unclear
Authorities have not released an estimate for the damage caused by the crash. Possible expenses could include repairs to the concrete median, removal of damaged crates, roadway cleanup, emergency response costs and the loss of chickens killed in the collision.
The trucking company or its insurer could also face claims related to the damaged property and cargo. Any citations or criminal charges would depend on what investigators determine about the crash and why the driver left the scene.
For a motor carrier, the financial consequences can extend beyond the immediate cleanup. An at-fault crash may affect insurance costs, safety records and the company’s ability to continue operating, particularly if investigators uncover equipment, cargo-securement or driver-compliance violations.
Similar Poultry Spills Have Disrupted Highways
The Lake Station crash is not the first poultry-hauling accident to leave animals or cargo scattered across a major roadway.
In 2019, an overturned tractor-trailer near Brewster, Ohio, spilled thousands of chickens onto U.S. Route 30. The crash left both live and dead birds along the median and a nearby road while crews carried out a large recovery and cleanup operation.
In November 2025, a semi carrying live chickens overturned on northbound Interstate 5 near DuPont, Washington. Hundreds of birds were reported on the freeway, three lanes were closed and traffic backed up for several miles before the roadway reopened. The driver told troopers he had fallen asleep and was cited for negligent driving.
Another poultry-related crash shut down westbound Interstate 26 near Spartanburg, South Carolina, for nearly 12 hours in 2025. That truck was carrying chicken carcasses rather than live birds, but the spill required an extensive cleanup involving transportation and emergency crews.
Such crashes can be unusually difficult to manage because responders must control traffic, remove damaged equipment and recover animals or animal cargo at the same time. The resulting costs may include towing, cleanup, roadway repairs, cargo losses and claims from other motorists.
Poultry Company Crashes Have Also Produced Major Lawsuits
Separate crashes involving poultry companies show how quickly liability can rise when serious injuries are involved, although those cases were not highway chicken spills like the Lake Station crash.
In Texas, a court approved a $27.5 million settlement after a Sanderson Farms vehicle struck the rear of a car occupied by a mother and her two sons. One child suffered catastrophic injuries. The settlement was funded through insurance coverage and trusts established for the child’s long-term care.
Police Continue Search for Driver
The Lake Station crash remains under investigation. Indiana State Police are asking anyone with information about the Volvo truck or its driver to contact Trooper Garcia at the agency’s Lowell Post at 219-696-6242.
This story is developing and may be updated as additional information becomes available.