OLD FORT, N.C. — Several dogs and cats were missing after an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals van carrying the animals crashed into a median on a North Carolina interstate, authorities said Wednesday.
It was unclear how many animals were in the van or how many were missing, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The animals went missing after the vehicle, driven by Ronald Jeffrey Swanson, 54, of Hendersonville, crashed on Interstate 40 near Old Fort, WLOS reported.
Swanson was airlifted to an area hospital with serious injuries, the television station reported. A passenger in the van had minor injuries and was not hospitalized.
According to a North Carolina State Highway Patrol spokesperson, the van’s left tire failed, causing the vehicle to hit a barrier wall, according to WLOS.
McDowell County Emergency Management provided an update on its Facebook page, writing that “multiple animals were seen entering the wooded area near the crash site moments after the incident occurred.”
First responders and police continued to search the area for the missing animals, WLOS reported.
McDowell County officials asked those traveling along I-40 in Old Fort, as well as hikers visiting Catawba Falls or Kitsuma Trail, to report unattended dogs or cats to the McDowell Communications Center at 828-652-4000.
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