Truck Overturns in Donegal, Thousands of Crabs Spill Onto Highway

A transport truck carrying approximately 15,000 live crabs overturned on a highway in County Donegal on January 12, 2024, creating a chaotic scene as thousands of crustaceans attempted to escape. The truck, owned by Odham McLaughlin of McLaughlin’s Car Dismantlers and Recovery, was en route to restaurants in Portugal with a cargo valued at around $97,000 when the accident occurred.

Initially, McLaughlin received a call about the truck’s flip but did not anticipate the extent of the situation. Upon arriving at the scene, he discovered that the aluminum container had burst open, releasing the crabs onto the highway. “I was shell-shocked,” he later joked during an appearance on the CBC radio show “As It Happens.”

Following the accident, the Donegal County Council quickly closed the road to facilitate a recovery operation. McLaughlin described the crabs as “skittering all over,” highlighting the urgency of the situation. Recognizing that he could not manage the retrieval alone, McLaughlin reached out to nearby communities, enlisting the help of an impressive number of volunteers.

Community Effort to Recover Crabs

The response from local residents was remarkable. Approximately 80 volunteers, including men, women, and children, joined forces to assist in the recovery effort. The group worked tirelessly over the course of about 18 hours, gathering the crabs into sandbags and using a crane to return them to their container.

Despite the community’s best efforts, some crabs did not survive the crash, while others made their escape into the surrounding area. McLaughlin expressed gratitude for the support and said, “Everybody from the village came in to help. I don’t think it’ll ever be forgotten.”

Ultimately, approximately 95 percent of the crabs were retrieved, providing a sense of accomplishment for the volunteers involved. However, the outcome took a disappointing turn shortly after the recovery. McLaughlin was informed that, because of their ordeal, the entire batch of crabs was deemed unfit for human consumption and had to be disposed of.

This unexpected conclusion left McLaughlin frustrated, noting that the situation had turned from a potential success story into a significant loss. As he reflected on the events, he could not help but feel “crabby” about the entire experience. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the transportation business and the resilience of community spirit in times of crisis.