Animal rights organization PETA have called on the Waterford Mayor to erect a memorial in memory of hundreds of chickens killed when the lorry they were traveling in was overturned. 

The incident happened in west Waterford on April 17th. A lorry carrying a significant amount of chickens was overturned on its route to Carlow - resulting in the spillage of hundreds of chickens at the city bypass.

The driver was treated for non-threatening injuries at University Hospital Waterford, and many of the chickens died in the accident.

PETA is now calling on Waterford's Mayor Pat Nugent to erect a tombstone in memory of the chickens - and to remind all drivers to slow down and travel safely.

The organization have also reached out to to request permission to erect a memorial tombstone at the scene of the accident.

The planned plaque would read: "In Memory of the Chickens Who Suffered and Died in a Lorry Accident at This Spot: Try Vegan."

Animal agriculture is the leading cause of:

- species extinction 🦏
- ocean dead zones 🐠
- water pollution 💧
- habitat destruction 🌳

This #EarthDay, go vegan for the planet and animals 🌎🌱

— PETA UK (@PETAUK) April 22, 2018

In a statement, PETA director Elisa Allen said the animal's suffering had been "for nothing more than a roast or some nuggets".

In a letter to the mayor she added that, "Our memorial would also let people know that the best way to prevent animals from dying in incidents like this one is to spare them the terrifying trip to the abattoir altogether by going vegan," she wrote.

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"It'd also remind drivers who transport animals to slaughter of their responsibility to the thousands of living beings they haul every year as well as to the motorists whose lives are endangered when a vehicle overturns."