Over 160 pigs rescued after Monroe Co. crash

MONROE COUNTY, Ind. – Monroe Fire Protection District crews responded to a very unusual incident Thursday morning when a tractor-trailer carrying over 160 hogs was involved in an accident in Monroe County.

On September 12 at approximately 9:45 a.m., the Monroe County Fire Department responded to a report of a crash involving a car and a semi-truck on the highway at the intersection of State Road 37 and South Old State Road 37.

When the officers arrived, they did not find a typical accident scene – over 160 pigs were trapped in the crashed semi-trailer.

Because the pigs were jostled around during the incident, animal control officials were concerned that they might get too hot in the trailer, as it would take a while for another livestock truck to pick them up. While paramedics checked the drivers, who were fine, firefighters got creative and built a makeshift pen for the animals using trucks, truck beds and ladders.

They also built a makeshift feeding trough and some hoses to keep the animals cool until they could be transported away.

The owners stated that 162 pigs were being transported and nine of them died in the crash.

This section of road was closed for several hours while crews worked to load the pickup trucks into a new tractor-trailer.