Swarm Of Bees Escapes From Truck In Bernards

A tractor trailer carrying bee hives from Florida to Maine lost some of its cargo Monday morning, Bernards Township police said.

State beekeepers remained on North Maple Avenue, where the trailer had stopped after pulling off Route 287, in full suits and equipment long after the truck had departed.

The tractor trailer had pulled onto the southbound lane of North Maple Avenue near the Verizon bridge after the load of beer hives shifted in the back of the truck at about 7:45 a.m., Bernards Township police said.

Some of the boxed bee hives apparently slid off the truck, photos from the scene showed. The accident initially was reported as a disabled truck, but the truck was not disabled, according to police.

The beekeepers who responded to assist and help restabilize the load were coordinated by Tim Schuler, a New Jersey State apiarist, according to police.

The bees were being transported from Port St. Lucie, Fla., and were en route to delivery in Maine, police said.