Nearby Residents Told to Stay Inside as Semi Carrying Millions of Bees Overturns

A wrong turn on Sunday led to a major incident in Orange County, Texas, when a truck transporting more than 400 beehives overturned. The crash released an estimated 2 million honeybees into a rural neighborhood, prompting local authorities to urge residents in the 1130/Colony Dr. area to stay indoors. Orange County Emergency

Services and ESD4 units responded quickly, warning of heavy bee activity near the scene.

The accident caused ongoing traffic disruptions into Monday, with officials advising people to avoid the area. The semitrailer had been carrying 408 hives—nearly 400 of which were affected—on a route meant for North Dakota. However, the driver took a narrow road unsuitable for such a large vehicle and tipped the truck while attempting a tight turn.

No serious injuries were reported in the eastern Texas county, close to the Louisiana border. Local beekeepers, including Christie Ray of Queen Bee Supply, quickly organized volunteer efforts to recover the scattered colonies. “They just help each other—that’s what they do,” Ray said. “The beekeeping community is a great community.”

Video footage from the scene shows teams in protective gear working through thick swarms to collect the bees. Despite their efforts, Chris Moore, owner of Moore Honey, expects only about 25% of the hives to survive. “It’s a big loss,” he said. “Any time you lose that many in one shot, it’s a big loss.”

Beekeepers in protective suits working to recover the colonies amid dense… pic.twitter.com/BqQ6UmaI5i

The bees were part of a commercial operation that moves hives across the U.S. for pollination and honey production, often shipping them to states like California or the Midwest. While this incident was significant, it was smaller than a similar 2025 crash in Washington state, where around 14 million bees were released.

Cleanup is expected to take time. “Not something you ever want to see, but so nice to see beekeepers helping beekeepers,” Queen Bee Supply posted online.

Emergency services thanked the public for their patience as crews worked to safely manage the situation.

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Original Article: Nearby Residents Told to Stay Inside as Semi Carrying Millions of Bees Overturns