Semi Rollover Kills Thousands Of Chickens Near West Union

Thousands of chickens have died in a semi accident in rural Fayette County.

Fayette County sheriff's officials received a 911 call, informing them of a semi rollover on U.S. Highway 18 about one mile west of West Union around 1:30 AM Tuesday.

Officials said Tony Raske, 44, of Alden, was hauling a trailer-load of chickens, when he lost control and drove into the ditch. The semi and trailer rolled, killing about half of the nearly 5,000 chickens.

The birds that survived were rounded up and loaded onto another semi. Raske and a child passenger sustained minor injuries and did not need hospitalization, authorities said.

Officials deemed the semi and trailer a total loss. Raske was charged with failure to maintain control.