A semitrailer carrying about 400 hives tipped over in a rural Texas neighborhood, releasing millions of honeybees. Emergency officials in Orange County, Texas, shut down roads in the area and warned residents to stay in their homes while crews worked to unload the trailer and salvage as many hives as possible.

Local Beekeepers Assist in Rescue Efforts

Christie Ray, owner of Queen Bee Supply, said volunteers from three or four other beekeeping businesses in the area went to the crash scene to help. Chris Moore, owner of Moore Honey, estimated that only about a quarter of the 408 hives will survive, depending on how many queens remain alive after the crash.

The hives that crashed had only traveled a few miles on a trip to North Dakota when the truck driver took a wrong turn and ended up in a neighborhood with narrow roads. The driver was trying to navigate a tight corner when the trailer fell over. Other local keepers have put out catch boxes to collect remaining strays, but it will likely take a while for the insects to clear out of the area.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.