Orange County, Texas — Drivers and residents in southeast Texas got a startling surprise on Sunday, June 21, when millions of bees escaped onto a local highway after an 18-wheeler truck loaded with beehives overturned.

According to authorities, the crash occurred when the truck driver, carrying approximately 50,000 pounds of bees, failed to complete a turn, causing the trailer to overturn and spill its cargo. Around 2 million bees are believed to have escaped, creating a heavy swarm in the area.

The Orange County Emergency Services District 4 (OCESD4) responded quickly, urging residents in the 1130/Colony Drive area to stay indoors for safety while beekeepers worked at the scene. Colony Lane and Colony Drive were temporarily shut down during the cleanup operation.

Local beekeepers, including teams from Queen Bee Supply LLC, mobilized to help recapture the hives. They successfully transferred many of the hives onto transport trucks to be moved to a local honey farm. By the time of the latest updates, the overturned trailer was reported to be about 75% unloaded.

Photos shared by Queen Bee Supply LLC on Facebook showed dozens of beekeepers in protective gear working amid the massive swarm. The company wrote:

“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! ”

The truck driver was unharmed in the incident. One photographer from a local CBS affiliate was stung while covering the scene.

This unusual event highlights the challenges of transporting live beehives and the strong community spirit among beekeepers when disaster strikes.