Imagine you’re driving down a country road, when you see an overturned truck up ahead. Thankfully, no one appears to have been hurt in the accident, but the damaged vehicle is blocking the lane, and since it’s spilled its cargo all over the road, you’re probably in for a frustrating wait before you can continue on to your destination.

Not the most pleasant scenario, is it? Unless, of course, that cargo happens to be thousands of adorable baby chicks.

The vehicle seen here overturned while travelling along an elevated roadway in China’s Shandong Province. Luckily, it wasn’t on its way to deliver chemicals, waste materials, or anything else potentially hazardous or smelly. No, this was a poultry delivery, and the truck was loaded with tiny canary-colored passengers.

▼ Video of the accident’s aftermath (turn up the volume to hear the chicks’ cries of “Cheeep!” over your own continuous “Awwww!”)

But as cute as those little guys may be now, it’s only a matter of time until they grow into delicious adult chickens. Realizing this, local residents swarmed the accident site, scooping up future lunches and dinners by the boxful, as often happens in situations like this.

Police are said to have been unable to deter the meal-grab, as most of the cargo, valued at roughly 50,000 yuan (US$7,800) was scooped up.

Still, with so many avian escapees, we’d like to think at least one or two of the chicks made it to safety, perhaps as a merciful onlooker watched them dash off towards the horizon and freedom while thinking “Go on! Live! Live!”

Sources: Otakumu, Hachima Kiko, The Beijing News, Toychan, 163.com, 2 Channel