A semi-truck hauling millions of bees recently overturned on Highway 230 near Crater Lake National Park, blocking the highway in Douglas County, Oregon. The crash occurred about nine miles from Diamond Lake Junction, according to Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson Julie Denney.
“Our crews and other responders had to be cautious when accessing the scene because of all the bees flying in the area,” Denney told the Statesman-Journal.
Three days after the crash, beekeeper Tristen Tartaglia headed to the scene after hearing about it over a scanner. Her goal was to find the bees and rescue them before a cold front arrived.
When she got to the accident scene to make sure the bees had been cleaned up, she didn’t see a clear highway; instead, she looked down the steep slope and saw hundreds of boxes of bees strewn across the forest.
“I was horrified. I took the video and then I sat there, putting boxes together so that the bees might be able to make the night,” Tartaglia told Central Oregon Daily.
The next day, she posted about the bees on social media. She said about 420 boxes of bees spilled out of the truck when it overturned. Each box contained thousands of bees
A social media post brought out dozens of volunteers
“The next day, 50 people showed up and did what I had done in a whole day in like 15 minutes. It was absolutely amazing and incredible,” Tartaglia said.
“We were picking through layer after layer after layer of hives that had been smashed up against themselves,” beekeeper Tyler Hawkins told KOBI News. “You could estimate between 30 to 50 thousand. You do the math. 400 times 30 to 50 thousand. And it was remarkable to see people, these women in particular, working together to help save these bees.”
As for the truck driver, he was the only one in the vehicle. He sustained minor injuries but refused medical treatment. The reason for the crash was reportedly unknown.