HUNDREDS of sheep are dead after a livestock truck rolled off a bend on the Western Ring Road at Laverton North.
More than 400 sheep plunged off the bend onto the Princes Freeway on Thursday when the truck toppled about 9pm.
They hit vehicles below and caused traffic chaos as the truck dangled precariously over the freeway.
A vehicle hit by falling sheep rolled four times but its occupants escaped injury, as did the truck driver.
Carcasses on the freeway were cleared the next morning by Wyndham Council rangers.
Fewer than 10 sheep are believed to have survived, after dozens had to be destroyed.
It was the second crash on the freeway involving livestock transport in recent weeks. RSPCA Victoria spokeswoman Kristen Vear said inspectors described it as the worst incident involving animals they had ever seen.
“We believe there were more than 50 badly injured sheep that needed to be put down,” she said.
“The priority for our team was the welfare of the injured sheep.”
The crash blocked inbound lanes and one outbound lane for up to four hours.
On May 9, a semi-trailer heading towards Melbourne crashed off the freeway near the Sneydes Road overpass.
Cattle were tipped onto the road. Many were killed or seriously injured and traffic was blocked.
A number of injured cows were destroyed at the scene.
Police investigations into Thursday night’s crash continue.
