Big rig carrying live chickens crashes, overturns on Highway 166

An overturned semitrailer carrying live chickens led to a short-term closure of Highway 166 east of Highway 101 early Friday morning.

At approximately 5:30 a.m., personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and Los Padres National Forest were dispatched to the scene of an overturned big rig on Highway 166 approximately 1 mile west of Rock Front Ranch.

A single trailer overturned, ending up on the right shoulder after two big rigs apparently made contact during a sharp turn, according to CHP emergency dispatch reports.

Neither driver was injured in the incident, CHP Officer Craig Carrier said.

Due to the emergency equipment at the scene on the narrow road, the incident affected Highway 166 traffic for a time, but the roadway was open as of 6:30 a.m.

It was not immediately clear whether any chickens were injured in the incident.

As of 9:53 a.m., a representative from Western Grain and Milling was en route to the scene with another truck and personnel to assist with picking up the chickens, but was not expected to arrive for a few hours, the CHP said.