A semi-truck hauling chickens overturned near milepost 16.8 in Clark County, blocking access to the northbound on-ramp at Exit 16. Washington State Patrol troopers, transportation crews, and local animal control officers worked to round up the loose chickens safely as the closure disrupted traffic through the La Center Road interchange.
The crash happened near La Center Road, close to the ilani Casino Resort, according to KPTV. The northbound Exit 16 on-ramp was shut down while crews worked the scene. Transportation officials warned drivers to expect backups and use caution, advising motorists to take alternate routes until the scene was cleared.
Crash Near La Center Road
The crash was reported near La Center Road and the Exit 16 ramp.
Not the First Loose-Poultry Incident on I-5
Livestock trucks tipping over on Washington highways is an uncomfortably familiar scenario. In a separate crash, a semi carrying live chickens overturned on northbound I-5 near DuPont, leaving hundreds of birds on the roadway; as many as three lanes were closed, and some chickens died. The crash occurred around 1 a.m., and the driver said he had fallen asleep. He received a citation for second-degree negligent driving, according to MyNorthwest.
Clark County itself has seen this before, too. Back in 2018, a truck hauling more than 5,000 Foster Farms chickens flipped on State Route 502 near Dollars Corner while attempting an illegal U-turn toward I-5, spilling thousands of birds and triggering a standoff with animal rights activists, according to KGW. The driver was cited for the unlawful U-turn, and one activist was arrested after refusing to surrender a live chicken.
Truck Safety in Washington
The broader safety picture around commercial trucking in Washington offers useful context. The state recorded 2,128 semi-truck collisions in 2023, including 68 fatal crashes that claimed 77 lives, according to the Metier Law Firm. The firm also notes that I-5 in Washington has recorded 245 fatal collisions over a ten-year span.
Drivers heading north through Clark County were being told to expect delays and find another way around until the scene at Exit 16 was fully cleared.
