Chickens killed in Olympia truck crash to be memorialized by PETA billboard

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Coming soon to a billboard in Olympia: A memorial of sorts for dozens to hundreds of chickens who were killed in a semitruck crash on Monday.

"In honor of the chickens who died in Olympia on February 11 when the truck carrying them hit the center barrier on I-5 near the start of Highway 101, PETA plans to place a billboard by the crash site showing a chicken's face next to the words 'I'm ME, Not MEAT. See the Individual. Go Vegan,' " PETA wrote in a statement announcing the billboard.

A semi hauling live chickens was heading north around 4 a.m. when it lost control near the US-101 exit and crashed into the jersey barrier, knocking over a street light.

Though video from the scene showed dozens of carcasses, some chickens did survive.

"This crash left countless birds dead or mangled on the highway, and the survivors who couldn't escape will presumably end up under the slaughterhouse knife," says PETA Vice President Colleen O'Brien. "PETA's billboard will remind people that the best way to prevent these tragedies is to help keep smart, sensitive chickens off the road in the first place by going vegan."

The driver was not injured the crash.