A truck hauling bees crashed at the Henley Street exit off I-40 on Friday, shutting down the ramp to downtown Knoxville and turning eastbound traffic into a slow-moving mess. Drivers reported long backups while crews tried to secure the scene and keep motorists away from the buzzing chaos.
State transportation officials urged people to steer clear of the Henley Street exit while the wreck was cleared, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. Emergency responders were on scene, and traffic on I-40 East was significantly backed up toward downtown as drivers tried to inch past the closure.
Bees Swarming the Scene
Photographer Mark Nagi posted images to X showing swarms of bees near the ramp, along with the resulting traffic delays, as seen on Mark Nagi's X account. Motorists at the scene shared those posts, helping officials confirm that active hives were scattered across the roadway.
Why Bee Loads Complicate Cleanup
Crashes involving shipments of beehives often lead to long closures because crews may need to wait for bees to calm down or bring in licensed beekeepers to remove hive boxes, a process that can take hours, according to coverage of a similar crash by WBTV. That history helps explain why state transportation officials took a cautious approach at Friday's incident.
Motorists heading downtown should plan for delays and use alternate routes until the ramp fully reopens. This story will be updated as agencies release additional information.
