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Motorists: Beware of Bees

creative commons

NEWARK, Del. (AP) - Delaware transportation officials are warning motorists to keep windows closed and avoid unnecessary stops because of honeybee swarms near a highway ramp where a tractor trailer carrying hives overturned.

The ramp to Interstate 95 in Newark reopened Wednesday, more than 12 hours after the rig carrying an estimated 16 million to 20 million bees from Florida to Maine crashed Tuesday. Police cited the driver, 55-year-old Adolfo Guerra of Miami, for unsafe shifting of load or cargo.

Police say Guerra and two passengers were taken to Christiana Hospital with minor injuries from the crash and 50 to 100 stings each. There were reports of passers-by being stung.

State police say bee handlers worked with firefighters to spray water to disperse the bees as authorities used a swarm removal plan.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.