A truck carrying hundreds of bee hives has overturned on a Queensland highway, unleashing a swarm of angry bees that surrounded the wreckage and forced the closure of one lane.
Incident Details
The small truck was traveling westbound on the Warrego Highway at Womalilla, in the state's southwest, when it left the road and rolled over at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The driver, a 39-year-old man from Meringandan, sustained minor injuries and was transported to Mitchell Hospital for treatment.
Beehive Damage and Swarm
The crash caused extensive damage to hundreds of bee hives, with bees escaping from approximately 360 broken boxes, according to a Queensland Fire Department spokesperson. A swarm of angry bees formed within a 10-meter radius around the truck, creating a hazardous situation for emergency responders and motorists.
State Emergency Service volunteer Wayne Bryant, who was directing traffic at the scene, described the situation as "a bit of a mess." He noted, "We've got a pile of destroyed hives and a swarm of angry bees in about a 10m radius around the truck. It's a bit of a mess at the moment. I'm about 30 metres from it, and there's a cloud of bees around the truck."
Safety Measures and Cleanup
Authorities advised motorists traveling through the area to keep their windows closed to avoid the bees. A Queensland Fire Department crew remained at the scene for approximately two hours to clean up leaked fuel and manage the situation. The highway lane was temporarily closed to ensure safety and facilitate the cleanup operation.
