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Millions of bees killed after truck carrying hives crashes

Click to play video: 'Millions of bees euthanized after truck carrying hives crashes'
Millions of bees euthanized after truck carrying hives crashes
WATCH ABOVE: Millions of bees euthanized after truck carrying hives crashes – Nov 3, 2017

California police had to call in beekeepers Thursday night after a truck carrying hundreds of bee hives went off the road.

The truck skidded off a road in Auburn, northeast of Sacramento, after trying to avoid a collision with slowing traffic.

READ MORE: ‘Bee friendly’ city of Kawartha Lakes stands up for pollinators

The crash spilled hives across the road and ditch, sending millions of bees swarming into the air.

“There were bees everywhere, but they weren’t swarming because it was cool and night,” Sgt. Tucker Huey of the Auburn Police Department told The Sacramento Bee (no joke!). “Had this occurred on a warm day, it would have been a much bigger deal.”

The truck was en route to local farms to deliver the imported bees that were to be used to pollinate crops.

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Unfortunately millions of bees had to be euthanized following the crash after beekeepers decided the colonies were not salvageable.

The beekeepers used soapy water to kill the insects.

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