A semi truck overturned in Washington state on I-5 around 4 a.m. this morning (April 17), spilling millions of bees onto the highway.
The truck driver says a blowout caused his rig to roll over and spill 448 beehives onto I-5. After the accident, local news reported that the driver was trying to help clean up the bees.
The bees were quiet in the early morning hours after the accident, but as the day warmed up, they became more active. The Washington State Highway Patrol is asking drivers to roll up windows and keep vents closed as they drive by. Crews say clean up could take hours. On site news crews report having been stung multiple times.
The accident is a big blow to the already fragile honey bee ecosystem. A number of bees were killed in the crash. $92,000 worth of bees are in danger, but if the queen is still alive it should be possible to save many of the bees.
Sources:
USA Today
Slate
Q13 Fox