An estimated 2M bees escape after a semi overturns in Texas – less than 2 months after North Dakota experienced a similar accident

A semi-truck hauling beehives reportedly overturned in Mauriceville, Texas, releasing an estimated 2 million bees into the surrounding area. According to BroBible, the crash occurred on Colony Lane after the truck failed to negotiate a turn. The truck was said to be carrying around 50,000 pounds of bees at the time of the rollover.

Local authorities urged residents in the area to stay indoors as crews worked to contain the situation. Orange County Emergency Services District #4 issued a warning asking people living near the crash site to remain inside their homes while emergency responders and beekeepers worked to manage the swarm.

First responders reportedly called on local beekeepers to assist in capturing the bees and transferring them to another truck. According to the report, no major injuries were reported among residents, though KFDM News announced on Facebook that one of their photographers covering the incident was stung.

Emergency officials warned residents to stay indoors as crews worked the scene

Orange County Emergency Services District #4 said in the statement, “Everyone that lives in the 1130/Colony Dr. area please remain indoors. An 18 wheeler carrying beehives has turned over and there is a heavy presence of bees in the area OCSO and ESD4 units are on scene.” The warning was issued shortly after the crash as officials worked to assess the situation and prevent further incidents involving the bees.

Christie Ray, who is associated with Queen Bee Supply, shared photos on Facebook showing beekeepers and first responders working together to secure the scene and collect the bees. According to the post, the effort involved both commercial beekeeping operations and backyard hobbyists who came out to help. 

Ray wrote on Facebook, “Not something you ever want to see, but so nice to see beekeepers helping beekeepers. From commercial outfits to backyard beekeepers, grateful for everyone that came out and helped!” She included the hashtag “#notforthefaintofheart” along with her post. Truck-related incidents can take unpredictable turns, as seen in a Florida man’s truck crash and helicopter theft attempt.

The cause of the crash appears to be attributed to the truck failing to negotiate a turn on Colony Lane. It remains unclear how long the cleanup and containment effort took, though the report indicated that beekeepers from multiple types of operations assisted at the scene.

This incident appears to follow a similar crash that occurred in North Dakota less than two months earlier. In that earlier case, per WWNYTV, a semi-truck transporting beehives also rolled over, releasing close to 2 million bees. The hives, which were reportedly being carried in the trailer of the truck, became separated during the rollover, which led to the bees escaping.

The driver involved in the North Dakota crash was reportedly stung hundreds of times by the bees after the rollover, as the truck had been carrying between 600 and 800 hives at the time of the crash. After exiting the cab of the truck, the driver reportedly ran toward the nearby Sheyenne River in an attempt to escape the swarm of bees.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol said the driver was later taken to Mercy Hospital in Valley City for treatment. Not all roadside vehicle encounters end in injury though, as in one case where a driver talked his way out of a speeding ticket after a Cybertruck sighting distracted the officer.