Motorists stung after honey bee truck overturns west of Roma

Motorists traveling west of Roma, Queensland, faced an unusual and hazardous situation after a truck carrying thousands of honey bees overturned early Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on the Warrego Highway at Womalilla, approximately 120 kilometers west of Roma.

“

We've got a pile of destroyed hives and a swarm of angry bees in about a 10-meter radius around the truck.

The overturned truck resulted in a significant number of bees escaping their hives, creating an "angry swarm" in the vicinity. The crash also led to the destruction of the hives themselves. One eastbound lane of the highway remains blocked as authorities work to clear the scene and manage the agitated insects.

State Emergency Service volunteer Wayne Bryant, who was directing traffic, described the scene as chaotic. "We've got a pile of destroyed hives and a swarm of angry bees in about a 10-meter radius around the truck," he said. He advised drivers to proceed with caution, emphasizing the need to keep vehicle windows closed.

“

If you're driving, make sure you go through with your windows up.

Some motorists learned this lesson the hard way. "Some people were rubbernecking and bees got into the car, and they got stung," Bryant noted. Specialist road technicians are en route to remove the truck, requiring specialized enclosed vehicles due to the bee swarm.

“

Some people were rubbernecking and bees got into the car, and they got stung.

The owner of the bees, Rodney Ruge, is traveling to the site from Toowoomba. His son, Bruce Ruge, who was driving the truck, was taken to Mitchell with a suspected broken elbow and was reportedly shaken but survived the incident. Ruge mentioned his son instructed firefighters to kill the bees, fearing they would be too aggressive.

“

The problem is going to be getting those bees off the truck because it's on its side.