AUBURN, CA (KTXL/CNN) - A semi-truck that was carrying millions of bees worth more than $1 million got into an accident Thursday evening.
The driver told police that traffic came to a sudden stop, and he swerved off the freeway to avoid causing a chain reaction crash. He drove off the ramp and crashed on the roadway.
Authorities said the semi was hauling hundreds of hives, which spilled onto the roadway.
Beekeeper Nathan Smith said the bees were traveling from Montana and were headed to the Central Valley to pollinate almond trees for the spring.
Beekeepers came to the scene and were forced to euthanize the insects
Smith said since the crash happened late at night and rain is on the way, the only humane way to contain the bees was to kill them by spraying soapy water on them.
Smith said the truckload of bees was worth between $1 million and $2 million.
The driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The roadway near the accident was shut down in both directions.
Copyright 2017 KTXL via CNN. All rights reserved. Raycom News Network contributed to this report.
