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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bee-laden truck crashes near Billings

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

BILLINGS – About 2,000 bees got loose Tuesday when a semi-trailer carrying beehives rolled onto its side near the Huntley exit on Interstate 94, the Montana Highway Patrol said.

The wreck happened shortly before 3 p.m. in the westbound lanes, Trooper Dell Aman said.

The truck was hauling 465 beehives – nearly 13.7 million bees – from North Dakota to California when it veered into the ditch and rolled, landing on its side in a ravine, Aman said.

The driver, 66-year-old Robert Esper, of Winnemucca, Nev., had to be extricated from the cab but was uninjured.

Aman said Esper was cited with careless driving.

Most of the bees stayed in their hives, but a “couple thousand” got loose and “wandered around the area,” said Aman.

Aman said an area bee expert and several hobbyists were at the scene in bee suits helping as crews removed the truck from the ravine Tuesday evening.