Weidkamp Road closed in Lynden after semi-truck crashes, unleashes millions of bees

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) reported a rolled-over semi-truck that was transporting bees on Weidkamp Road in Lynden. Approximately 14 million bees got loose after the accident, far lower than the sheriff’s office’s initial report of 250 million.

“Initial information on the number of bees in Friday’s rollover crash was inaccurate. We have since learned that a more accurate total is far fewer than first estimated, closer to 14 million, according to one of the beekeepers doing recovery work on-site today,” WCSO stated in a Facebook post Saturday.

The car accident occurred at 3:30 a.m. No injuries were reported.

WCSO released a statement confirming that Weidkamp Road in Lynden was closed from West Badger Road to Loomis Trail Road. WCSO advised drivers to avoid the area entirely.

“WCSO deputies, Whatcom County Public Works, and a bee expert are on-scene with the truck-load of pollinating bees,” WCSO stated in the post.

Corralling the bees

Amy Cloud, the WCSO public information officer, provided the next steps for securing the bees.

“There are several master beekeepers on scene with emergency management and sheriff’s deputies,” Cloud said. “The plan is to keep the road closed so that the bees can find their queen and rehive, and then, when they’re docile, when they’re sleeping, to get the hives contained again.”

Cloud stated that WCSO Deputies reported a few officers were stung in the process.

“Deputies, I believe, have cleared the scene and turned it over to our folks with emergency management. A few (deputies) got stung,” Cloud said.

Cloud ensured that the primary focus remained on the health and safety of the bees and urged people to avoid the area.

“The goal is to save as many of them as possible, and we can do that if folks will provide space and distance,” Cloud said.

Contributing: Heather Bosch, KIRO Newsradio

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