A Hall County Sheriff’s Office deputy was one of two people injured in an early morning wreck that involved a tractor-trailer carrying live chickens.

George Shellie Knapp Jr., 76, of Jefferson was driving his personal vehicle, a pickup truck, to work when he turned off Wilson Road onto U.S. 129/Athens Highway and struck the tractor-trailer, according to authorities.

The tractor-trailer was traveling north at the time of the wreck, which happened about 5:35 a.m.

Both vehicles traveled off the right shoulder of the road, and the tractor-trailer overturned.

Knapp was charged with failure to yield when entering or crossing a roadway, according to the Georgia State Patrol, which investigated the accident.

He and the tractor-trailer driver, Abel C. Mendieta, 43, of Gainesville, were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where they were treated then released.

Knapp, who works for the court services division, “may take a few personal days as a result of the wreck,” said Deputy Nicole Bailes, sheriff’s office spokeswoman.

U.S. 129 at the wreck site was closed for about 2.5 hours, according to GSP.

GSP said it didn’t have specific procedures concerning cleanup following a wreck involving chickens.

Cpl. Kevin Holbrook, Gainesville police spokesman, said, “Typically, the poultry company (involved) has protocols in place to handle these types of situations. They typically handle it from their end.”