An unusual incident took place on Interstate 95 in Wilson County, North Carolina, when an RV was rear-ended by a large box truck just after midnight on November 26. The RV, traveling from South Carolina to Pennsylvania, was carrying a variety of animals, including 28 snakes, two tortoises, five Bearded Dragons, two dogs, and a cat, along with five passengers.
During the crash, one of the snakes, a small but venomous viper, managed to escape, but fortunately, its owner was able to catch it before emergency services arrived. The RV was towing a Jeep Cherokee, which suffered significant damage and was pushed into the RV’s rear bedroom, where a child was sleeping at the time. Thankfully, the child emerged with only minor injuries, and all the animals were reported to be safe.
The box truck driver, however, sustained serious injuries and was taken to WakeMed in Raleigh. Initial reports suggest that he may have fallen asleep at the wheel, and it remains uncertain whether he will face any charges.
The driver of the RV, who frequently participates in reptile expos, shared his concern about the escaped snakes. He acted quickly to secure them, prioritizing their safety and that of the EMS personnel on the scene.
Clayton Barfield, a tow truck driver from Mangum’s Towing and Road Service, was one of the first responders on the scene. He remarked that this incident was one of the most unusual calls he has encountered in his 16-year career. His team worked alongside local firefighters and police to ensure a safe recovery of the animals and the vehicles involved.
A trooper from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol commented on the bizarre nature of the event, noting that in his nearly two decades of service, he had never come across anything quite like it.
