TARBORO —
“Sunny and swine” could’ve been Monday’s weather forecast for Edgecombe County. A firefighter made that remark at the scene of an accident that left dozens of hogs roaming the side of U.S. Highway 258.
The sows were headed south on 258 when the tractor-trailer carrying them overturned near the intersection of Summer Acre Road at about 12:18 p.m. Trooper J.C. Goins of the North Carolina Highway Patrol said he has seen accidents involving livestock, but ones of Monday afternoon’s magnitude are rare.
“You don’t see it every day,” he said.
The trailer driven by Charles Pate of Snow Hill was carrying about 100 sows, according to Goins.
“The truck ran off the road on the right and went into the ditch. When he went off into the ditch, the trailer shifted and overturned,” said Goins. “I didn’t see any indication of high speed or reckless driving.”
Goins charged Pate with failure to maintain lane control. He said Pate told him that the livestock shifted to one side of the trailer to the extent that he could not keep the vehicle on the road.
Some of the hogs freed themselves while others remained contained in the overturned trailer. Both lanes of the highway were closed to traffic from about 12:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. while animal control officials and volunteer firefighters tried to herd the hogs into trailers.
“We’re equipped to handle this with our emergency response trailer,” said David Ray, production director for Murphy-Brown LLC, the world’s largest producer of pork products. The task at-hand was herding the pigs into the trailer and they were none too happy about leaving the muddy ditches.
“They were born and raised on concrete. That’s why they won’t stand on it,” said William Scott, volunteer firefighter with the Speed Fire Department. “I ain’t seen a hog yet that doesn’t like the mud. That’s probably the dirtiest that hog’s been in his whole life,” he said, pointing to one wallowing in the mud.
Courtney Skinner, member of the Speed Fire Department and worker at Albemarle Animal Hospital, said she couldn’t bear the thought of the pigs being slaughtered or suffering in any way.
“I want to carry them home,” she said. “I suggested taking all the water off the [fire] trucks and filling the ditches up so they would have water to drink.”
The firefighters sprayed water from a fire hose into the overturned tractor-trailer to give the contained sows some relief.
“We’ve got the animals cooled off,” said Ray. “They’re fine.”
The majority of the hogs survived Monday’s incident, said Goins, but some of them had to be put down on the scene due to injuries sustained in the accident or from fighting with each other while contained in the cramped quarters of the trailer.
The only remaining question remaining was “Will the pigs still go to market?”
Goins said the U.S. Department of Agriculture would make that call.
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Related Photos
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These sows enjoy their temporary freedom following a Monday crash on US 258 that resulted in about 100 hogs escaping the confines of their trailer. The driver said the hogs shifted to one side, which caused him to lose control of his rig and run off the road. The crash resulted in the closure of the highway for about five hours. For The Daily Southerner
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These sows enjoy their temporary freedom following a Monday crash on US 258. (Staff photo/Calvin Adkins) For The Daily Southerner
Accident dumps sows on US 258
OUT FOR A STROLL
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AIB co-chair Buddy Hooks, left, discusses courthouse square with AIB judge James Abraham, center, and chair of the courthouse square project Martie Thompson. James “Jim” Abraham, of Savannah, Ga., and Ed Hooker, of Fort Riley, Kansas, were in Tarboro Monday and Tuesday to judge the community’s entry in the America in Bloom competition
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America in Bloom judges to Tarboro: keep the momentum going
The Town Common and 200-year-old trees providing a canopy over the focal point of Tarboro were the first things that caught the eye of the America in Bloom (AIB) judges when they arrived in town Sunday evening.
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America in Bloom judges to Tarboro: keep the momentum going
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Nash Health Care seeking expanded affiliates
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Nash Health Care seeking expanded affiliates
- Sports
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Ryan Chatt
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Chatt wins NC East District tourney
SouthWest Edgecombe Cougar Ryan Chatt recently won the North Carolina East District golf tournament through the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. The match was held at Scotch Meadows Country Club in Laurinburg.
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Chatt wins NC East District tourney
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You, too, can be a slacker spy
Think you're a loser just because you dropped out of high school and never finished the military training you began?
Think you're a dud just because you work as a security guard even though you dreamed of becoming a global savior?
Well, don't beat yourself up. You, too, can become an international superspy like Edward Snowden.
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You, too, can be a slacker spy
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Whitley/Webb
Pinetops-Caitlin Layne Whitley and John Robert Webb were married on June 8, 2013 at half past three in the afternoon at Pinetops Baptist Church.
The Reverend John Melancon performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Michael Whitley. Grandparents of the bride are the late Mr. and Mrs. James Carlton Jernigan and the late Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Lane Whitley.
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- Obituaries Archives
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BRUCE EVERETTE
WHITE PLAINS, NY — Bruce Everette, 61, died Sunday, June 16, 2013. Arrangements are pending with Hemby-Willoughby Mortuary, Tarboro.
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BRUCE EVERETTE
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Elegant Entertaining With Bold Flavors
Summer entertaining is easy with simple, crowd-pleasing recipes from light bites to sweet delights that require almost no time in the kitchen.
Invite over a few of your closest friends, heat up the grill and set out your favorite wines for a truly memorable outdoor dinner party. Select simple recipes that can be prepared ahead of time and quickly seared on the grill once your guests have arrived. Everyone will enjoy the food and you'll love that you're not trapped in the kitchen. Prep, chop and marinate everything then store it all in containers.
Continue the trend of simplicity by serving food-friendly wines, such as those from Las Rocas. Las Rocas, which literally means "the rocks" because of the rocky soil where the grapes are grown, produces an incredibly vibrant Garnacha and refreshing RosÈ that pair wonderfully with these dishes. - Zesty Mexican Meals Made Fast
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- Events
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Edgecombe Events June 19
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
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Edgecombe Events June 19
- Our Community
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WALTON EARNS SCHOLARSHIP
John Ronald Walton, a 2013 graduate of Edgecombe Early College High School and son of John and Lesa Walton, is presented a $2,000 scholarship check by Edgecomber County Farm Bureau Presidet Tom Proter. Walton is enrolled at NC State University for the fall semester.
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