In Charlotte, North Carolina, a trailer carrying bees was involved in a crash with three semi trucks.
The incident occurred on Tuesday around 3 p.m. on northbound I-85 on the Catawba River bridge, located north of Exit 27.
According to WBTV, three semi trucks and another truck hauling a trailer of bees were involved in a chain reaction and crashed into each other. The trailer overturned at mile marker 28, near the weigh station at the Catawba River.
The trailer was loaded with honey bees.
Two of the tractor trailers suffered severe damage. One person sustained minor injuries in the accident.
The truck driver commented that he was driving from Florida to New York.
The trailer was hauling nearly 480 hives. Each hive usually carries more than 20,000 bees.
One of the drivers, Robert Stephens from Gastonia, was caught by surprise by the accident and the swarm of bees.
He explained:
“It was very scary. I didn’t know where they was coming from. I didn’t know there was a truck in this whole deal here that was hauling bees.”
Stephens was stung by the swarm:
“They attacked me. I got stung like 50 times – in my nose, ears, everywhere.”
Professional crews including a beekeeper rushed to the scene to eliminate the problem.
Certified North Carolina state beekeeper, Tommy Helms, told media that state troopers informed him about the situation.
Helms stated:
“The tractor trailer carrying the bees got tangled up in the wreck and spilled a few bees on the bridge there over the Catawba River.”
According to the beekeeper, it was a difficult swarm to contain. Helms continued that some of the bees were able to calm down.
He instructed firefighters to spray the rest with foam.
He furthered:
“The rescue people couldn’t get into the wreck scene so we just eliminated that problem.”
Emergency crews worked for hours to clear the scene of the incident. The beekeeper commented that the bees might linger around the area until night time. He plans to check the site later to see if he can gather remaining bees.
NCDOT reported that three lanes were closed for several hours and advised drivers to seek alternate routes. Lanes reopened around 6 p.m.
The truck that was hauling the bees is now back on its route.
Officials are investigating the exact cause of the crash.