A semitrailer truck loaded with turkeys rolled over early Friday in stormy weather in Stearns County, blocking the road for several hours, authorities said.

The crash happened shortly before 1 a.m. on County Road 65, just east of Melrose, the Sheriff's Office said. The driver, Thomas O. Harlow, 38, of Swanville, Minn., was not hurt.

He was driving west in a thunderstorm when the truck ran off the road and rolled into the ditch, according to the Sheriff's Office.

"It is believed that strong wind and rains were the cause of this accident," the Sheriff's Office said.

Workers from Jennie-O came to the scene and transferred the turkeys for transport to a processing plant.

The road was closed for five hours until the truck and turkeys could be cleared.

PAUL WALSH