AVOCA, NY : Puppies persevere in van crash on Tuesday, January 24th 2017

Tuesday laid claim to one of the more surprising motor vehicle accidents, when a delivery van carrying 103 puppies destined for various pet stores crashed in Avoca.

At 8:12 a.m., Bath-based State Police responded to the scene of a single vehicle accident on Interstate 86 eastbound, and to their surprise, puppies were everywhere.

"We haven't ever dealt with something like that before, it was actually kind of a shock," said Sergeant Kevin Grover.

Only five of the 103 puppies sustained injuries.

"One had a broken jaw, and four others had superficial injuries," Grover said.

Due to the weather, the driver lost control of the vehicle, but remained on the roadway, troopers said.

"The driver was going too fast for the conditions," Grover said.

The vehicle provided some security for the puppies.

"It was a box van, like a big U-Haul you sometimes see, but it was set up to transport dogs," Grover described. "They were all crated, so it was hard to predict which would and would not be injured."

Three troopers, Mark Bernard, Jordan Sheehan and Pete Peters, removed the puppies from their crates before they were transported by T&R towing, who assisted at the scene and provided shelter until rides could be arranged to Finger Lakes SPCA.

The influx of puppies at the SPCA meant that the shelter had to close to the public on Wednesday. Most of the puppies were expected to be back on the road by the end of the day on Wednesday. The five with injuries may have their stay with the SPCA extended.

"Those ones, the vet won't recommend travel, and we will seek a waiver from the owner," said a representative for the SPCA.

The organization received an outpouring of support on social media when word spread of the incident.

"We appreciate everyone's concern for these dogs. We will post more info soon," said the SPCA's Facebook page.

People were ready and willing to offer their assistance when the organization requested newspapers and paper towels to help accommodate the puppies' stay.

The driver of the van, Emily Woodrum of Webb City, Mo. received minor injuries, according to police, and was treated and released at Corning Hospital for complaints of back pain.

Woodrum was ticketed for speed unreasonable or imprudent, resulting in the accident, police said.

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Puppies persevere in van crash