Big rig dumps load of chicken parts, guts all over Highway 101

A big rig headed north on Highway 101 in San Mateo on Thursday afternoon spilled chicken parts and guts all over the roadway, causing a temporary shutdown of three lanes after numerous vehicles drove over the fowl spill, the California Highway Patrol said.

The incident was reported shortly before 3:30 p.m. on the northbound side of the highway, just before the Kehoe Avenue exit, said Officer Art Montiel, a CHP spokesman.

“There were a couple of full-sized chickens,” he said. “Most of it was guts and ground up, liquidy, like a chicken soup.”

Chicken guts oozed out of a big rig Thursday afternoon on Highway 101 in San Mateo when the truck stopped abruptly. Chicken guts oozed out of a big rig Thursday afternoon on Highway 101 in San Mateo when the truck stopped abruptly. Photo: California Highway Patrol Photo: California Highway Patrol Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Big rig dumps load of chicken parts, guts all over Highway 101 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

All lanes were reopened about 45 minutes after the spill once California Department of Transportation crews cleaned up the mess.

The big rig may have spilled the meat as it abruptly slowed down because of stopped traffic ahead, causing the load to shift and fall out the front of the trailer, Montiel said.

“It appeared to be pretty full,” he said. “I didn’t actually climb up there.”

No one was injured — except the chicken, who were already long gone.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov