Motorists on the N2 near Dawn in East London helped themselves to more than 500 sheep that were thrown from a heavy-duty truck that overturned after it collided with a bakkie on Wednesday morning.
The truck was transporting 550 sheep from Richmond in the Northern Cape before the driver lost control and hit a bakkie awaiting breakdown assistance on the side of the road.
The incident took place at about 9am.
When the Dispatch team arrived on the scene, the driver of the truck, who refused to be named, said he felt that either a control arm or axle on the truck or trailer, broke while driving.
“I saw it [bakkie] stopped on the yellow lane. The truck had a problem with steering and I swerved on the left. I tried to avoid it,” he said.
The truck driver suffered minor head and arm injuries and refused to be taken by the emergency services.
The driver of the bakkie suffered head and leg injuries and was taken by emergency services.
As both vehicles were stationary in the bushes, motorists stopped and helped them from their vehicles.
Sheep which had survived the ordeal then ran amok on the road while others ran into the bushes into nearby farms.
More than 100 sheep died on the scene while the injured had to be put down.
Motorists who had parked their cars near the N2 Amalinda off-ramp helped themselves to the remaining sheep.
Police officials including Buffalo City law enforcement officials cordoned off incoming traffic before clearing the scene.
The owner of the truck, who identified himself only as Attie, said the rest of the sheep were taken to a nearby abattoir in East London.
He said he would know the extent of the vehicle damage by Thursday after all the inspections.
By 11am, traffic on the road had been cleared with both vehicles towed off the scene.
SPCA inspectors put the injured sheep “to sleep” and then handed them over to the owner.
East London SPCA manager Ian Lombard commended the Qonce inspectors for their response.
“The [truck] driver felt that either a control arm or axle on the truck or trailer, broke while driving,” Lombard said.
“The vehicle he hit, just happened to have broken down as well, on the exact spot his truck veered off the road.
“We rushed to the scene of the accident to assist in freeing those trapped inside the trailer that was lying on its side.
“Sheep that were severely injured and suffering as a result were humanely put out of their misery.
“We would like to express our thanks to King William’s Town SPCA inspectors Anette and Nicky, who assisted us with this task.
“It is unfortunate that so many [animals’] lives were lost and many suffered before our intervention.”
Provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said they were grateful no-one had died.
“This is an unusual accident and it is very difficult to report it because these 500 sheep were on their way to be slaughtered in a butchery.
“We are grateful that no-one got [seriously] injured. The surviving sheep that remained even though people took [some of] them, were taken and transported in another vehicle.”
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