A massive swarm of one million bees caused a major section of a highway to close for several hours as officials swiftly responded to the incident.
At approximately 11 a.m. on Friday, a pickup truck carrying the bees collided on Interstate 40 in Knoxville, Tennessee, near the Henley Street exit, resulting in the bees being released, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
While the exact number of hives being transported wasn’t disclosed, it is common for commercial beekeepers to move large bee populations for agricultural and pollination purposes nationwide.
Motorists caught near the scene of the accident were advised to remain in their vehicles as the bees swarmed the area around the highway exit.
Beekeepers donned protective gear and teamed up with emergency crews to recapture and manage the swarm that had gathered around the crash site and surrounding road.
Mark Nagi, a TDOT spokesperson, shared continuous updates on X throughout the incident.
“The ramp from I-40 East to Henley Street is currently closed,” his first post began. “A truck carrying a load of bees crashed, and now the bees have escaped and are swarming the area.”
The affected part of the highway later reopened as the truck driver and beekeepers worked to contain the swarm.
“The ramp from I-40 East to Henley Street is back open, but the truck is destroyed, and the bees are … well … buzzing,” one of Nagi’s follow-up posts said.
“Unless you are dressed in this outfit please stay in your vehicles in this area,” Nagi added alongside a photo of man in a beekeeper’s outfit.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Nagi confirmed there were no injuries reported as a result of the crash.
“Fortunately, there were no injuries. The truck was removed, and the bees were safely moved out of the area,” he wrote.
Similar incidents involving escaped bees have occurred in the past, including a crash involving a semitrailer that released millions of bees onto an interstate in Utah, underscoring the risks tied to transporting large numbers of hives.
Officials did not say what caused the crash but said the bees were eventually contained and removed, bringing an unusual highway shutdown to an end.
