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May 25, 2010
Crash sets 17 million bees free

LAKEVILLE (Minnesota) - RESCUE crews were using fire hoses to douse an angry swarm of bees after a fatal crash that involved a semitrailer carrying about 17 million of the insects. Authorities say a truck hauling 7,000 bee hives was involved in the four-vehicle crash Monday on Interstate 35 near Lakeville, about 56km south of Minneapolis. Minnesota State Patrol spokesman Lt Eric Roeske says one person died and another person was airlifted to a hospital.

The hives housed roughly 17 million bees and were bound for Bauer Honey in north-western Minnesota. It's unclear how many bees got loose, but several emergency workers were stung. Crews tried to use fire hoses to get them to fly away. Lt Roeske says all lanes were open by Monday evening. -- AP