A TEXAS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS TOLD TO STAY INDOORS AFTER AN 18 WHEELER CARRYING AROUND 20 MILLION BEES CRASHED, SENDING SWARMS INTO THE AREA
An 18-wheeler carrying 406 beehives overturned and plunged into a ditch in Mauriceville, Texas, on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The impact ruptured the hives and unleashed an estimated 24 million honeybees into the surrounding residential area near the Louisiana border.
Local authorities quickly placed the neighborhood near Colony Drive on lockdown to protect the public. Officials advised residents to stay indoors and seal their windows while agitated swarms filled the air across the Orange County community.
Emergency services collaborated with local beekeepers to manage the crisis and clear the roadway. Christie Ray of Queen Bee Supply provided specialized bee suits to first responders because they lacked the proper equipment to approach the wreckage safely.
Agencies have not yet released the condition of the truck driver or the number of stings sustained by those on the scene. Recovery teams continue working to salvage the remaining colonies and right the commercial vehicle.
