Truck rollover kills 184 sheep

About 184 sheep died or had to be euthanised after a truck rollover at Mooroopna last week.

The truck carrying 415 sheep rolled as it turned west from Toolamba Rd into Ferguson Rd about 1.15 pm on Monday, June 7.

While the cause was not fully known, Shepparton Highway Patrol’s Senior Constable Darren Smith said it was believed the load of sheep in the trailer shifted as the truck went around the corner and the trailer toppled, taking the prime mover with it.

The truck and trailer came to rest in a table drain.

About 184 sheep died at the scene, while the remainder were moved to a nearby paddock.

The 27-year-old Shepparton man driving the truck was not injured.

He was assessed by ambulance officers at the scene.

Sen Constable Smith said drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash.

Two veterinarians were at the scene to help with the sheep, while police and the fire brigade also attended.

One of the veterinarians was driving by shortly after the accident. The other was from Agriculture Victoria.

The truck had been enroute to an abattoir at the time of the accident.