US / bees Rescuers Battle Bees After Deadly Crash Collision kills 2, frees millions of bees By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff Posted May 25, 2010 1:42 AM CDT Copied First responders battle bees that escaped from a semi after a two-car, two-truck accident in Lakeville, Minn. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Richard Sennott) Emergency crews had to battle through clouds of bees after a big rig carrying 17 million bees was involved in a deadly four-car pileup on a Minnesota highway yesterday. One person died at the scene and another died later in a local hospital. Rescue workers suffered stings as they tried to disperse angry swarms of escaped bees with fire hoses. "I saw this big black cloud," a fire chief told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I opened up my door and got stung in the face." Police believe the bees got loose after the truck, carrying hundreds of hives to a honey plant, was hit from behind by another vehicle as part of a chain reaction which left two cars crushed. (More bees stories.) Report an error