Big rig carrying chickens crashes in Turlock, blocks Highway 99 NB lanes

A big rig carrying chickens crashed on Highway 99 near Lander Avenue in Turlock, blocking northbound lanes for about 90 minutes early Friday morning, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol said all lanes were open by 5:34 a.m.

The accident, first reported at 3:56 a.m., left the big rig on its side and chickens and cages spread all over the road, the CHP said.

A woman got out of her vehicle and began helping to collect the chickens.

Mayra Alejandre, 23, of Turlock, was driving the 2007 Freightliner two-axle truck for Mings Poultry, Inc., in San Francisco.

There was no immediate word on how the wreck occurred. One witness told the CHP that the big rig had been "weaving" since Atwater.

There were no reports of injuries.

Early on, some drivers continued on the freeway through the center divide. Still, other vehicles could be seen backed up for at least a half-mile south of the wreck, the CHP reported. One lane was opened by 5 a.m., before all lanes were open about 35 minutes later.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Big rig carrying chickens crashes in Turlock, blocks Highway 99 NB lanes."