Massive bee spill leads to multiple crashes on I-15
Published at | Updated at
Audio from a witness at the scene.
UPDATES:
Police say Robert M. Langford, 32, of Ogden, UT, was driving the semi when he reached for an item, drove off the roadway, and hit a concrete barrier under the overpass. The vehicle continued off the road and overturned.
Langford was transported by ground ambulance to the Portneuf Medical Center.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Idaho State Police are on the scene of a single-vehicle crash on southbound I-15 near milepost 71 and a two-vehicle injury crash on northbound I-15 at milepost 73.
About 15 minutes after the semi crash, there was reportedly a crash on I-15 near the Pocatello 5th Ave. exit involving a motorcycle, according to the Idaho State Journal.
The second crash in the area occurred at 2:15 p.m. on the northbound side of I-15 about two miles north of Pocatello and the bee crash. This crash involved a tanker semi and a car. The car rolled and is on its top and one of the tankers on the semi also rolled.
All lanes are open at the southbound crash. The right lane is blocked at the northbound crash.
Emergency crews are expected to be on the scene for an extended period of time working to clear the crashes.
ORIGINAL STORY:
POCATELLO — Authorities say 1-15 north and southbound lanes have both been closed down to one lane of traffic near milepost 73 after multiple accidents resulting from a crash involving a semi-truck transporting bees.
The Pocatello Police Department and Idaho State Police report multiple accidents in the southbound lane toward Chubback near milepost 71 near the off-ramp at Pocatello Creek Road. Police say the vehicle overturned and released many of the bees causing problems with traffic.
Idaho State Police reported a two-vehicle injury crash at milepost 73 as a result of the bees.
Pocatello Police spokeswoman Dianne Brush said the bee swarms are moving in a northwestern direction. North Pocatello residents are asked to stay indoors and to keep windows closed due to swarming bees.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area for the next hour. If you must drive through the area, police advise you keep your windows rolled up.
This crash comes two months after a semi-truck crash on Highway 33 near Howe where over 20 million bees spilled onto the highway.
If you’ve taken photos of the crash, please send them to news@eastidahonews.com.
This is a breaking story. Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for updates.