3,000 piglets get loose, 100 die in I-70 crash in eastern Illinois

CASEY, Ill. (WTWO/WISH) — Police in eastern Illinois say about 100 pigs died in a crash. 

According to Illinois State Police, a crash on Interstate 70 caused nearly 3,000 piglets to get loose. Police said the surviving pigs were recaptured and have continued to their destination in Indiana.

A semi crashed onto its side releasing the animals 2 miles west of Casey, which is about 100 miles west of Indianapolis. 

Cleanup was ongoing in the midafternoon. Representatives from several state and local police and fire departments helped corral the piglets.

State police say the crash occurred due to driver illness. The driver was cited for improper lane usage.

A Facebook post by ISP has since gone viral, receiving more than 12,000 shares.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.