Nine beekeepers rush to save thousands of bees after truck crash on Warrego Highway

A crew of nine beekeepers from across southern Queensland is rushing to save thousands of bees after the truck carrying their hives crashed on the Warrego Highway.

The eastbound lane of the Warrego Highway between Mungallala and Mitchell remained closed this morning at Womalilla Creek, about 600km west of Brisbane.

Temporary lights were being used to direct traffic through.

The truck, which was carrying about 360 beehives when it rolled over about 3:30am on Wednesday, was yet to be moved.

Heavy-lifting equipment will be used at the scene today, as a small exclusion zone around the truck remains in place due to the bees hovering in angry swarms.

Race to save the bees

Vice-president of Queensland Beekeepers Association Jacob Stevens has been there helping to save as many bees as possible.

Mr Stevens, a commercial beekeeper based in Warwick, said beekeeping calming smoke was being used, but it remained a "confronting scene" for the nine beekeepers on deck to lend a hand.

"We're very lucky that the bees sort of naturally stay in their cluster and we've been able to keep them together as best we could," Mr Stevens said.

"Then, this afternoon on dark, we will load up the bees that we've been able to rescue and shift them onto some better conditions to make sure that we do what we can for their recovery.

Mr Stevens said unfortunately there were many bees that either did not survive the crash or could not be saved.

The hives were headed to Eromanga, about 1,000km west of Brisbane, for honey production.

Mr Stevens said loss of hives would have an impact for local suppliers, especially as the Varroa destructor mite continued to cause damage to the industry.

It is estimated 90 per cent of south-east Queensland's wild honey-bee colonies have collapsed since the varroa mite was detected in Queensland beehives in 2025.

"Our industry's kind of on its knees at the moment with the varroa mite so we … as an industry [have] got to pull together and get on with it," Mr Stevens said.

"It's going to be really challenging for everyone across the eastern seaboard with this varroa mite over the next few years, so we've really got to look after each other and just get on with what we need to get done to look after the bees."

Clean-up crew faces challenges

Traffic Services Australia spokesperson Wayne Bryant said it would be a "big day" removing the truck using heavy machinery.

But Mr Bryant said the clean-up was proving a bit more difficult than usual given the number of bees around the crash site.

"It's only the guys in the special equipment and uniforms at the moment that can actually get close to the truck."

The driver of the truck, Bruce Ruge, will need to have an operation after breaking his elbow during the crash.

His father, Rodney Ruge, as well as family and staff, have travelled to Mitchell to support the clean-up.