UPDATE: Pigs on the Run After Truck Accident, Route 34 Reopens
UPDATE: Pigs on the Run After Truck Accident, Route 34 Reopens Save Email Print
Posted: 3:33 PM Oct 15, 2008
 Last Updated: 11:46 PM Oct 15, 2008
 Reporter: Mike Waterhouse
Email Address: mike.waterhouse@wsaz.com
59 comments Photos
A | A | A

UPDATE at 9:30 p.m.

Law enforcement officials said Route 34 has reopened to motorists.


UPDATE @ 6:30pm
Officials in Putnam County say Route 34 is expected to be closed for several more hours.


UPDATE @ 4:37pm
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Emergency crews tell WSAZ.com that 108 pigs were on board the semi-truck that crashed on Route 34 in Putnam County Wednesday afternoon, shutting down the road.

Several pigs reportedly died in the crash, several others were injured. Crews are still trying to catch all of the loose pigs at this time.

Deputies say the driver of the truck didn't see stopped traffic when he was coming around a curve and ran off the road to avoid hitting any cars.

No humans were hurt in the accident. Route 34 between the new Route 35 interchange and Route 35 in Winfield is expected to be closed for several hours.


ORIGINAL STORY @ 3:33pm
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Route 34 is shut down in Putnam County between I-64 and the new Route 35 interchange due to an accident involving a truck carrying livestock.

The crash happened just after 3 p.m. Wednesday.

911 dispatchers tell WSAZ.com the truck ran off the road and there is loose livestock in the area. We're now told pigs are involved, and crews are trying to round them all up.

No one was hurt in the crash.

Route 34 is expected to be closed for several hours. Crews have shut the road down between the new Route 35 interchange and Route 35 in Winfield.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for more information.

[ Copyright 2009 – WSAZ.com. All Rights Reserved. ]
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Severe Weather and Breaking News Coverage

To send a news tip or submit a story idea, e-mail news@wsaz.com

Photo by WSAZ photojournalist Josh Stender.
Click Pictures to Enlarge
More Stories
Day 2: Washburn Baby Death Trial

St. Albans Man to Serve 30 Years for Sexual Abuse

Man Disappears After Leaving for Church

Financial Fitness Can Raise Quality of Life

 Flags to be Lowered for W.Va. Soldier

Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Hurricane Katrina Fraud

Humane Officer Suspended Pending Drug Investigation

W.Va. Fares OK in Adult Literacy, but Gaps Persist
Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: John on Oct 17, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Watch out for Pablo he's on a cell phone.
Posted by: gary on Oct 17, 2008 at 11:53 AM
too pablo;;yeh go ahead and fine all the truck drivers and put them in jail,,,and when you cannot find gas for your cars or food for your truck driver hateing brain,,or electric or clothes for your back,,,then you will be the first one on here saying how america needs more truck drivers,,,your stupid just like always with your dumb comments,,its called a curve ,thats probly why he did not see stopped traffic,,,maybe it was his first time on that road ,,he made a mistake,,we are only humans,,not perfect like pablo thinks he is,,so like it or not ,you got my point im sure
Posted by: Pablo on Oct 17, 2008 at 08:55 AM
Jake, you make a very good point about our lack of concern for our fellow human beings. Remember, it was Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama who want universal health care, not Bush/Cheney/McCain. I could never understand why some Christians align themselves with the republicans who seem only interested in helping the rich.
Posted by: to far side on Oct 17, 2008 at 08:40 AM
okay, that was cute....ya never know.
Posted by: Bob on Oct 17, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Hey Ann, Everything going on in the world and you are shedding some tears for some pigs? I bet you think chicken nuggets are born in styrofoam. Pig = food
Posted by: To Nate: on Oct 17, 2008 at 07:18 AM
I am not sure who complains more about progress you or your buddy Mark H. The opening of the road is a great thing - folks need to leard to adjust. Nathan if you dont like change then just stay home.
Posted by: WV Stereotype on Oct 17, 2008 at 02:17 AM
Gotta love by god WV with a story like this, no wonder the news media makes fun of us. Why would you even put that on the news, who cares!
Posted by: Dawn on Oct 16, 2008 at 09:01 PM
I think I saw one of the pigs on Berry Fork in Braxton County.
Posted by: Roger on Oct 16, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Hey booger, it's pig pen, not big ben. He was hauling hogs, remember.
Posted by: BillyBob Jr on Oct 16, 2008 at 07:28 PM
LMAO that sounds like Wv.
Posted by: Ann on Oct 16, 2008 at 05:52 PM
It never ceases to amaze me when something bad happens to a farm animal, no one cares. If the same thing had happened to a truckload of pets, people would be saddened by the situation. Farm animals feel pain and fear too!
Posted by: far side on Oct 16, 2008 at 05:47 PM
last chance or we are bacon,on three sway to the right in the curve.
Posted by: to jescow on Oct 16, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Yea...I thought they were going on vacation...hahaha. I am sure their suffering is ended more quickly at the butcher shop rather than a truck wreck, at least I hope so. FYI....I don't eat meat....
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 16, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Truckers need to slow down. I've travelled a lot this Summer and Fall and I've noticed that truckers are driving faster and much more aggressively. They need to realize they are not the only vehicles on the roadways! I feel more sympathy for the poor animals on board.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 16, 2008 at 02:26 PM
to some people If the truck couldn't stop he wasn't maintaining control of his vehicle, he should've slowed on that curve, it IS his fault.
Posted by: Homer on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:11 PM
MMMMMMM Baconnnn
Posted by: carter county on Oct 16, 2008 at 11:28 AM
I would love to see the cops trying to run down hogs . I would pay big money to see it lmao .
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 16, 2008 at 10:56 AM
this little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none, and this little piggy went wee, wee, wee all the way down 34.
Posted by: Melissa on Oct 16, 2008 at 10:10 AM
This is AWFUL just because a TRUCK driver was probebly well you know he was they always do going WAY too fast and probebly even on the phone these poor pigs had to suffer and some are probebly still. I hope he has a little bit of pain and suffering just as he caused those poor helpless animals. Yes I am NOT stupid I know where they were going but atleast that would have be humane and no suffering involved.
Posted by: Daryl on Oct 16, 2008 at 09:26 AM
A true BALLARDS Memorial!!!
Posted by: MeAgain on Oct 16, 2008 at 09:11 AM
To Charlie....LOL LOL LOL LOL...you made me laugh...sorry bout the pigs...how sad..they live a cruel life...I have seen these trucks on road before and always wondered what would happen if it tipped over.
Posted by: ryan on Oct 16, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Run little pigs! you are free!! really though, in this day in age a truck hauling that much should be offered a GPS safety system that can use road traffic radar to detect stopped traffic in a blind turn. it's sad to think that in this day in age we still depend on a single red lightbulb to run the traffic. it is the 21st century right? then again with all thats going on in the world these days maybe a good ol' fasion hog chase can really bring a comunity back together again.
Posted by: jake on Oct 16, 2008 at 08:42 AM
WHAT GETS ME IS THAT PEOPLE CRY AND WHINE OVER A STRAY ANIMAL BUT CAN CARE LESS ABOUT HUMAN LIFE, I KNOW A MAN WHO HAS TERMINAL CANCER AND BECAUSE HE HAS NO INSURANCE HE WAS REFUSED TREATMENT, HE WAS JUST SENT HOME TO DIE, ITS A SHAME THAT THIS WORLD HAS LOST LOVE FOR MANKIND. AND OH YES I AM A ANIMAL LOVER, BUT THE LOVE OF MANKIND COMES FIRST. GET WITH THE PROGRAM PEOPLE GOD IS LOVE.
Posted by: Just Me on Oct 16, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Here piggy piggy piggy piggy!
Posted by: Childs Play on Oct 16, 2008 at 07:44 AM
This little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none.....this little piggy RAN ALL THE WAY HOME!!!
Posted by: Pablo on Oct 16, 2008 at 05:46 AM
The driver didn't see the stopped traffic? How could he not. Thank God no humans were injured or killed. Was the driver on a mobile telephone? How can you not see traffic stopped in front of you? This careless driver should be fined, jailed, and lose his driving license for several years. He or she simply wasn't paying attention or was on a mobile telephone and drivers need to realize their first obligation while driving is to drive, not be careless and be a threat to others on the highway.
Posted by: Lisa on Oct 16, 2008 at 05:28 AM
Why do you all think it's a trucker's fault all the time??? If the was a wreck and a trucker with 10 miles of it you would blame that trucker... When in fact 98% of the time it is a cars fault the trucks wreck!! People in CARS on there CELL phones not paying attention..4 wheelers pulling out in front of these big rigs or even worse slamming on their brakes and a big rig behind them..The can't stop those trucks like we can cars. But I got to say a bunch of CITY boys and pigs (Hogs) is a funny thought..as in trying to catch them.. I thought they said pigs those were HOGS that were in that truck. And no they don't butcher a hog that was in a wreck. they take them to a landfill and bury them. SO watch who you are blaming in any accident.. look in the mirror it could have been you!! I for one respect those truck drivers and what they do. At least he wasn't drunk and killed someone in the accident.I would have run off the road to to keep from hitting a line of cars backed up for any reason.
Posted by: Jack on Oct 16, 2008 at 04:15 AM
Hey Cheryl, this trucker wasnt able to control his truck, or he could have stopped. How did he control not hitting other cars. Ba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: suuwee on Oct 16, 2008 at 02:33 AM
Glad no one was hurt. Good driving trucker, could have been much worse. Some readers think you were insensative, I think you were lucky to be alive and probably in shock. These were not pigs, they are definiteley hogs. Anyone notice the huge knot on the neck of the one on tv? Was that from vaccinations or what?
Posted by: Earl on Oct 16, 2008 at 01:51 AM
Was one of the hogs driving?
Posted by: HAHA on Oct 15, 2008 at 11:04 PM
GREAT COMMENT BOOGER
Posted by: booger on Oct 15, 2008 at 10:30 PM
c. w. mccall wrote a song about this. 10-4 big ben this here is rubber duck and im about to put the hammer down. everybody sing along
Posted by: Richard on Oct 15, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Nate , that what the stop signs are for, this is a great improvement, Regardless of whatever happens or what improvement they try to do on the traffic problems there is always someone like you to complain, there is one in every crowd, write a letter to Ann Landers she will hear your crying
Posted by: some people on Oct 15, 2008 at 09:23 PM
People did ya ever think it wasn't the driver's fault? Did it ever occur to you that most wrecks involving large trucks and semis is caused by someone in a car who is talking on their cell phone, or yelling at their kids, or by idiots who pull out in front of these big rigs... 35 around a blind curve with traffic on the other side is too fast to stop a semi.. Get over yourselves and admit that you are big blamers and not admitters!!
Posted by: Nate on Oct 15, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Coming home from work the other night I came across the new Rt 35. When I turned onto Rt 34, I noticed how short the turning lane is. Between the short turn lane, and people pulling on Rt 34 in front of big trucks...this Intersection will be DEADLY!! Should NOT have been opened until the WHOLE rd is complete to Buffalo!!!
Posted by: Jeff on Oct 15, 2008 at 09:02 PM
actually, they are hogs, not pigs
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 15, 2008 at 08:52 PM
I'll bring the BEER!!!
Posted by: anon on Oct 15, 2008 at 08:39 PM
I travel this road everyday and around some of those turns, it is impossible to see stopped traffic until you are right on it no matter how fast or slow you are going. I agree that people need to slow down and stay off of their phones but in this situation that may or may not have been the case. Traffic backs up in these turns about everyday and if you're not used to it, you have no reason to expect it. A car can stop a lot faster than a semi with that kind of weight behind it. Maybe patrolling the road is the answer, maybe not. How about more warning signs or lowering the speed limit on this stretch of road. And if some of you will recall, there have been people hurt and even killed on this stretch of road due to the same kind of accident. Thank God that it didn't happen this time!!!
Posted by: Kim on Oct 15, 2008 at 08:14 PM
I'd like my bacon to come out of a pan please, not the side of the road, LOL. Glad no people were hurt and hope that the injured pigs were taken care of quickly.
Posted by: MIKE on Oct 15, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Where and when is the Barbeque !!!!
Posted by: deelee on Oct 15, 2008 at 06:55 PM
This is just horrible! Animals sure pay the price in this world. If people didn't eat them, they would be rolling around on a farm somewhere in mud and lovin' life. I came through that intersection yesterday at lunchtime and of the 7 semis turning onto 34, at least three of the drivers were on cell phones. The busiest intersection and most dangerous stretch of road around and the truckers are chatting it up on their phones. As bad as it is for these poor animals, it could have been people - thank God nobody is dead.
Posted by: ls on Oct 15, 2008 at 06:51 PM
Why the State Police from Winfield or the Putnam Sheriff Dept dont run radar and run traffic patrol on that road.When things like this happen the media ask the same question to the Sheriff or State Police and for a day or two both agency will enforce the law for a day or two and then thats over.
Posted by: Charlie on Oct 15, 2008 at 06:40 PM
Did they find any lipstick on them?
Posted by: Kyle on Oct 15, 2008 at 06:37 PM
My God! Not the livestock!
Posted by: jesco on Oct 15, 2008 at 06:24 PM
hey "awww" Where did you think the pigs were going? On vacation? They all were going to butchered so you can eat bacon!
Posted by: to Cheryl on Oct 15, 2008 at 06:20 PM
at least he was able o keep from hitting any other cars or hurting any body. thank god for that.
Posted by: Jeremy on Oct 15, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Simply awful. Not only must these animals suffer in horribly cramped factory farm conditions, they risk being maimed while being transported by inattentive and indifferent human beings. The reporter was sure to let us know that no humans were harmed, so rest easy, torture profiteers.
Posted by: awww on Oct 15, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Its sad that some pigs died. Maybe they will get them butchered and give the meat to a family that needs it. :(
Posted by: anon on Oct 15, 2008 at 05:58 PM
Hurray for this truck driver. To be able to miss sitting traffic and not turn the truck completely over,sounds like a professional to me!
Posted by: Cheryl on Oct 15, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Drivers need to pay more attention, and slow down when coming to a curve, to begin with. What a mess!
Posted by: ellen on Oct 15, 2008 at 05:02 PM
How many more truck accidents are we going to have? There were TWO today? Truckers need to SLOW DOWN and be alert. Didn't see the stopped traffic? Right. I bet he was going 85 mph and couldn't slow down. He could have killed someone. What will it take???
Posted by: ann on Oct 15, 2008 at 04:42 PM
RUN PIGS RUN
Posted by: anon on Oct 15, 2008 at 04:38 PM
I saw this shortly after it happened. How sad. I didn't see any running pigs, but a few that were laying in the woods nearby. I hate that road!!!!!
Posted by: Jeff on Oct 15, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Just witnessed the accident with livestock on Rt. 34. Horrible. Appeared to be several dead pigsin trailer. Some running loose. Backed up traffic in a turn appeared to be the problem.
Posted by: anon on Oct 15, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Have you found out who the driver is yet? Please update soon. Thanks
Most Popular WV Stories
1. UPDATE: Suspect Arrested in Fort Gay Murder
2. Goody's Liquidation Means 7 W.Va. Stores to Close
3. 19-Year-Old Shot And Killed In Wayne County
4. When a Bet Costs You Dearly
5. UPDATE: Couple Charged in Child's Death Linked to Methadone OD
6. UPDATE: Cabell Huntington Hospital Lays Off 40
7. Day 2: Washburn Baby Death Trial
8. High Water Reported Around the Region, Some Roads Blocked
9. "Pump Up The Fun" Opens in Barboursville
10. Crash Slows Interstate Traffic Near Dunbar
First Warning Weather Hour-By-Hour
+ Ashland, KY
+ Athens, OH
+ Beckley, WV
+ Charleston, WV
+ Clarksburg, WV
+ Clay, WV
+ Gallipolis, OH
+ Huntington, WV
+ Ironton, OH
+ Logan, WV
+ Morgantown, WV 		+ Paintsville, KY
+ Parkersburg, WV
+ Pikeville, KY
+ Pomeroy, OH
+ Portsmouth,OH
+ Ripley, WV
+ Spencer, WV
+ Sutton, WV
+ Wayne, WV
+ Wheeling, WV
+ Williamson, WV
WSAZ West Virginia News Headlines Widget
Add WSAZ West Virginia Headlines to your website or social networking page. Click “options” to get the code.

Call To Check Road Conditions
·WEST VIRGINIA: (877) 982-7623
·KENTUCKY: (866) 737-3767
·OHIO: (888) 264-7623
Click here for online road conditions
WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links
SOMC
Very good things are happening here
Prudential Bunch
Since 1959 unequaled performance
Moms4Moms
By moms, for moms
WV Lottery
Nightly drawings and numbers
WVA Electric
Visit our unique lighting lab
Big Sandy
For all your furniture and appliance needs
Budget Blinds
The best in custom window coverings
Smackdown Live
Watch & Win: Win 2 tickets to Smackdown Live
Healthy Tri-State
Live a healthier lifestyle in 2009

WSAZ Mobile