Millions Of Bees Wreak Havoc After Truck Transporting Them Overturns On Highway In Idaho

Millions of bees wreak havoc after truck transporting them overturns on highway in Idaho

Millions of honey bees wreaked havoc after the truck they were in crashed onto a highway in Idaho.The vehicle overturned onto Interstate 15, near Pocatello, on Thursday afternoon and released the massive swarm causing traffic trouble and further accidents. The truck’s driver, Robert M. Langford, 32, of Odgen, Utah, was taken to Portneuf Medical Center via ambulance. He was said to be in a stable condition on Friday.

The Idaho State Journal reported that Langford had been trying to pick something up inside his vehicle when he ran off the road and struck a concrete barrier at around 1.30pm.Police said a motorcyclist was taken to hospital after being stung by the bees while driving southbound through the swarm 15 minutes after the truck crashed.Another collision, involving a tanker semi and a car, occurred at around 2.15pm, just two miles north of the bee spill, according to EastIdahoNews.comIdaho State Police trooper Arron Aikele was the first on the scene and he too was stung as he investigated.

He told the Journal it was almost half an hour before first responders were able to make contact with driver. Aikele added: 'He did get stung, but he knew what to do — he stayed calm.'Authorities closed down both north and southbound lanes of the highway to just one lane of traffic after a number of other accidents.

They advised motorists to avoid the area but keep their windows rolled up if travel was essential.Residents in north Pocatello were told to stay indoors and keep windows closed as a precaution as the bees were moving in a northwestern direction, according to police. The bees were being transported by Utah-based Sawtooth Transport when the accident occurred.The company’s owner, who did not wish to be named, said the insects were worth around $150,000 but most of them will die as their hives have been destroyed.Elaine Ostler, who lives in the area, says she and her husband Richard came home on Thursday to find a hill of bees around three feet wide and 18 inches deep in their backyard. She said a beekeeper put some hives in their yard and the bees have now started moving into them.

The bees are covering the outside of the hives now,’ she said. ‘We hope that they’ll go inside and maybe they can save some of them. Until then, we’re not going out there.’The truck was the third commercial bee hauler to spill its load in Idaho this summer.In June, more than 20 million bees spilled onto Highway 33 near Howe after a semi-truck crashed.Days later, a tractor-trailer carrying millions of honey bees also overturned on a busy freeway near the Ironman triathlon course in Coeur D’Alene.

OMFG. I'm deathly allergic to just one bee sting. This is making my asthma hitch up just looking at the pictures.

Definitely never ever ever ever ever delivering something like that.

The Idaho State Journal reported that Langford had been trying to pick something up inside his vehicle when he ran off the road and struck a concrete barrier at around 1.30pm.Police said a motorcyclist was taken to hospital after being stung by the bees while driving southbound through the swarm 15 minutes after the truck crashed.Another collision, involving a tanker semi and a car, occurred at around 2.15pm, just two miles north of the bee spill, according to EastIdahoNews.comIdaho State Police trooper Arron Aikele was the first on the scene and he too was stung as he investigated.

Assuming the Idaho State Journal is truthfully reporting this (and even if not), although I can only speak for myself, I believe there this is a serious lesson to be learned here for all of us. This is a painful reminder that driving a truck is an extremely unforgiving job. A second of distraction can change your life and possibly others instantly.

This type of thing reminds me that whatever needs doing that takes my eyes or attention away from the business of operating my truck,... can and must wait.

I figured that was the general rule of the road no matter the vehicle. If you're driving, pay attention. If you can't pay attention because of an emergency or something else, find a safe place to pull over and deal with the situation.

I figured that was the general rule of the road no matter the vehicle. If you're driving, pay attention. If you can't pay attention because of an emergency or something else, find a safe place to pull over and deal with the situation.

Absolutely, no exceptions. My point was the risk of disaster and the extent of the damage is far greater with a truck.

I figured that was the general rule of the road no matter the vehicle. If you're driving, pay attention. If you can't pay attention because of an emergency or something else, find a safe place to pull over and deal with the situation.

Absolutely, no exceptions. My point was the risk of disaster and the extent of the damage is far greater with a truck.

Brett wrote an excellent article on distracted driving (DOT's definition) in the "Trucking Blogs" section.

Oh yeah, I know it's important. I was being sarcastic. Kinda. Hahahaha. And I'll look it up.

There was a deputy in the SUV at the time the picture was taken. Fortunately, he was only stung once.