These Little Piggies Went for a Wild Ride

(THE PHRASE "HAPPIER THAN A PIG IN SLOP" COMES TO MIND FOLLOWING FRIDAY MORNING'S INCIDENT) 

A whole lot of pork was on the loose earlier Friday in Cumberland County.

Nearly 3,000 small pigs were roaming near I-70, after a livestock hauler overturned at Milepost 127, about two miles west of Casey. The crash occurred due to driver illness, causing the vehicle to run off the roadway. The driver was cited for improper lane usage. Approximately 100 pigs perished in the incident.

The remaining porkers have been reloaded thanks to the effort of Greenup Fire Protection District, Greenup Police Department, Casey Police Department, Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT portable scales, Effingham Equity, and other local volunteers. The surviving pigs have continued to their destination in Indiana.

Site cleanup is still underway and will continue through the afternoon.

(ILLINOIS STATE TROOPER AMANDA JENKINS WITH ONE OF THE RESCUED PORKERS)

Illinois State Police Public Information Officer Tammy Welborn said, "We experienced a great community effort out there today and for that we are thankful and proud."