A shark died in a car crash on a Florida interstate Wednesday after a semi-truck blew a tire.
The sandbar shark was killed after it was hurled from the tractor-trailer that was transporting it and three others to an aquarium in New York, the
Florida State Highway Patrol told WESH.com.
The three other sharks survived the accident, which took place on I-95 in Volusia County, northeast of Orlando. A SeaWorld response team picked up the surviving five-foot sharks and took them to a facility, the station noted.
"They're in good condition," SeaWorld response team worker Jim Kinsler told WESH.com. "Nothing different from normal transport stress."
No people were injured in the crash, officials said.
In the wake of the crash, president and director of the New York Aquarium
Jon Forrest Dohlin released a statement to local CBS station WKMG.
"A truck transporting four sandbar sharks to the WCS New York Aquarium was involved this afternoon in a weather-related accident on I-95 in Florida,” Dohlin said. “One of the sharks died as a result. Efforts are being made to move the remaining sharks to an appropriate facility near the site of the crash. There has been no report of injury to any person as a result of this incident. We are still receiving details on the status of the animals and situation. We will advise of further details as they become available."
Florida Fish and Wildlife officials arrived on scene after the crash to make sure that the company had permission to carry the sharks. Authorities said they had the appropriate permits to do so, according to WKMG.
It was the second deadly animal crash this week.
An estimated 400 piglets died Monday when the tractor-trailer carrying them crashed in Ohio.