Dozens of roosters killed in truck crash

LE GRAND -- Dozens of roosters were killed Wednesday morning after a big rig traveled off the road near Le Grand, causing one of its trailers to overturn, according California Highway Patrol.

The incident was reported at 5:45 a.m. on Minturn Road, north of Harvey Pettit Road. The driver, 56-year-old Donald Miller of Turlock, was driving north in a 1998 Peterbilt truck pulling two trailers loaded with roosters, according to officer Jason Schoonhoven, a CHP spokesman.

For unknown reasons, the truck veered off the road onto the right shoulder. The driver tried to maneuver back onto the road but the rear trailer detached, struck a power pole and flipped onto its right side, Schoonhoven said.

As a result of the crash, 18 homes were temporarily without power.

The driver wasn't hurt, although about half of the 400 roosters in the rear trailer were killed, Schoonhoven said.

The driver had been planning on driving from Fresno to Turlock when the accident happened.

Alcohol isn't considered to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.

City Editor Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsunstar.com.