A Nebraska driver was hospitalized with apparent injuries after his Kenworth truck transporting pigs flipped over on the southwest edge of Great Bend Tuesday afternoon.
Matthew P. Justus, Sr. 26, of St. Edward, Neb., was transported to Great Bend Regional Hospital with possible injuries.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that Justus’ 2008 westbound Kenworth was traveling too fast to navigate the curve at U.S. 56/K-156 at 1:43 p.m. The Kenworth and 2002 Wilson trailer sustained severe damage.
Barton County sheriff’s deputies, Great Bend police, fire and EMS personnel responded also to the accident.
Traffic was shut down for nearly five hours at the intersection of U.S. 56/K-156 and Railroad Ave. Traffic was rerouted west on 10th Street (West Barton County Road) until 6:30 p.m.
The stressed animals created a cacophony of squeals, none of them happy. A crew of “hotshots” gathered quickly to lend assistance and move the animals from the damaged trailer.
Most of the pigs escaped serious injuries, but several of the critters were unable to move freely because of broken limbs or shock.
About a dozen of the pigs were lucky to escape injury and settled in a nearby pasture before they were herded back in an animal trailer.
Dr. Matt Fehr and Dr. Ty Brunswig from AMC Animal Clinic provided medical assistance and evaluated the animals for injuries.