Dozens of reptiles from ‘snake show’ greet troopers at scene of North Carolina wreck
Dozens of reptiles from a “snake show” greeted troopers at the scene of a North Carolina wreck, officials said.
The animals — including 28 snakes — were riding in a trailer camper when it crashed in Wilson County. It happened along Interstate 95, a busy East Coast thoroughfare, state troopers told news outlets.
The crash was reported late Nov. 25, just at the start of the Thanksgiving travel rush. A truck was traveling north on the interstate when it rear-ended the camper, 1st Sgt. Scott Hemby of the N.C. State Highway Patrol wrote in an email to McClatchy News.
In addition to the 28 snakes, the camper was carrying tortoises, bearded dragons, dogs and a cat, troopers told WSOC.
Mangum’s Towing and Road Service responded to the surprising scene, where the owner started to capture animals that had become loose. All of the animals from the “slithery load” have since been accounted for, the company wrote in a Facebook post and an email to McClatchy News.
“In our industry, you never know what you will find when you respond a call,” wrote Melvin Garrett, general manager of the business. “We have recovered airplanes, train cars, trucks filled with bees, trucks hauling explosives and trailers hauling horses, but this was a first for all our guys. Most of our guys don’t love snakes, so it was one they will not likely forget anytime soon.”
The truck driver was seriously injured in the crash and taken to a hospital, WRAL reported.
Troopers told news outlets the truck driver likely fell asleep, then hit the camper near Kenly, a roughly 40-mile drive southeast from Raleigh. Highway patrol didn’t share additional information about the crash with McClatchy News on Nov. 26.
