ST LEONARD (Canada): Twelve million honey bees were released along Canada’s largest highway in north-western New Brunswick on Monday after a truck overturned.

Police said a truck carrying 330 crates of bees was negotiating a ramp when the load shifted and the truck overturned.

Police said a downpour of rain has helped to contain the bees in and around the truck. “Mother nature has been very cooperative with us. Bees don’t like the rain ... thousands of bees are hanging on the back of this truck and on the pavement right behind,” said a spokesman.

Bee experts were called in to help deal with the accident.

The spokesman said paramedics and ambulances were also on standby in case people endure multiple bee stings or have an allergic reaction to a sting. The driver of the truck was not hurt.

Richard Duplain, vice president of the New Brunswick Beekeepers Association, said it was difficult to predict whether the bees would be docile or agitated given their ordeal.—AP