An aggressive hive of bees shut down a Kirby intersection after a man was stung multiple times Thursday morning, forcing him to hide inside his own truck as the insects swarmed around him. Police officers who rushed in to help were swarmed too, turning a routine call into a dangerous standoff with a furious colony of bees in the 5000 block of Gene Cernan.
Officers Swarmed While Trying to Help
According to KSAT, the man was stung multiple times and was hiding in his truck when officers tried to reach him Thursday morning, only for the bees to swarm the officers as well. The outlet reports the man was eventually able to move his car away from the bees so he could receive medical attention. A separate account from News 4 San Antonio describes police and firefighters closing the intersection of Gene Cernan and Charles Conrad after reports that the man had been stung by bee-type insects, which then began to swarm the responding officers as well.
Details on the man's condition and the treatment he received have not been released. It's also unclear exactly what kind of bee or insect was responsible for the aggressive swarm, though KSAT described the hive as aggressive and News 4 San Antonio reported that insects swarmed responding officers.
Exterminator Called In to Eliminate the Queen
Once the scene was secured, an exterminator treated the hive in an effort to eliminate the queen, the same report notes. Kirby police asked the public to avoid the area entirely and not to approach the insects while crews worked to bring the situation under control.
Officials said the intersection near Gene Cernan would be closed through Monday while the bees disperse, according to the KSAT report. News 4 San Antonio, however, described the closure differently, reporting that the intersection would remain shut until the situation is addressed, without specifying an end date. Whether the hive itself was fully removed or relocated after the exterminator's treatment has not been confirmed.
For now, Kirby police are continuing to urge residents to steer clear of the block while the aggressive insects settle down, a reminder that even a seemingly routine traffic stop can turn into a multi-day public safety response when a startled hive gets involved.
