‘Camels and zebras’ on highway force closures on I-69 after semi fire

An officer with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said the animals were from the Mizpah Shrine Circus in Fort Wayne.

GRANT COUNTY, Ind. — A vehicle fire involving a semi-tractor-trailer hauling animals, including camels and zebras, closed both northbound lanes of Interstate 69 early Saturday morning.

Indiana State Police and Grant County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) officials responded to the incident around 2 a.m. near Marion.

Brent Ressett, a public information officer for the GCSO, said the animals were from the Mizpah Shrine Circus in Fort Wayne. He also said the animals were still in the trailer when officers arrived, and they had to rescue them.

The GCSO shared pictures on Facebook of officers rescuing the animals and holding them in the middle grass strip of I-69.

Update: The Northbound lane is now open!! 🚨 Urgent Traffic Update 🚨 🛣️ Avoid Interstate 69 at the 264-mile marker –…

Posted by Grant County Sheriff’s Office – Marion, IN on Friday, January 26, 2024

Ressett said two officials were checked for smoke inhalation after the incident.

ISP says the crash closed all northbound lanes, and southbound lanes were down to just one lane.

All animals were contained and accounted for around 3:30 a.m., according to ISP, and all of the animals involved were rescued safely, according to GCSO.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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