Staffordshire Police are investigating a distressing incident where a van driver ran over ducklings at the Trentham Gardens roundabout in Stoke-on-Trent. The incident occurred on Friday when seven ducklings attempted to cross the busy A34 road.
Most drivers stopped to allow the ducklings to cross safely, but one van driver did not. Local witness Steven Walley shared the event on Facebook, stating: “I’ve just been driving on the A34 at Trentham Gardens roundabout when a family of seven ducklings were crossing the road. All the traffic stopped to let them cross but disgustingly this van driver, after initially stopping, could not then wait for the five seconds it would have taken to let them cross and drove straight over them, crushing three of them.”
Following the incident, Mr Walley pursued the van to a nearby lay-by and confronted the driver in what he described as a “very heated conversation.”
Staffordshire Police confirmed they have contacted Mr Walley and are investigating possible wildlife offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The police urged the public to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, stating: “We understand this is an emotive issue for many people and we ask please that you do not take matters into your own hands.”
The investigation is ongoing, and local residents continue to express outrage over the cruel treatment of the vulnerable ducklings.
Originally published by UKNIP.
