Photo: Courtesy Helen Woodward Animal Center

puppies who were rescued after a crash

A transport vehicle carrying 40 puppies en route to California flipped on its side on an east Texas highway early Tuesday morning, killing two of the animals.

The driver and 38 of the puppies survived the accident, according to theHelen Woodward Animal Centerin Rancho Santa Fe, where the dogs were headed.

According to the animal center, the accident took place between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. in Longview, about 130 miles east of Dallas. The van was carrying puppies from theHeart of Louisiana Humane Society.

East Texas NBC affiliateKETK reportedthat the accident, in which the van hit the median and then skidded onto its side, occurred along Interstate 20.

The driver called 911 and the Longview Fire Department Station 3 and police department closed down the highway, flipped the vehicle upright and towed it to their station, the shelter statement said.

Courtesy Helen Woodward Animal Center

puppies who were rescued after a crash

The surviving puppies are now set to arrive in California on Wednesday, where each dog will receive a medical assessment from the center’s veterinary team. Those that are deemed healthy may be available for adoption as early as this weekend, center staff added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“We know that one of the puppies has a broken leg and one has some mild head trauma so we will be keeping those puppies with us until they are fully recovered,” the center’s adoption services director Kendall Schulz said.

source: people.com