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Accident Triggers Stings by ‘Aggressive’ Bees

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Bees stirred up by a traffic accident attacked motorists, police and firefighters along the eastbound lanes of the Riverside Freeway in Corona on Wednesday, sending two firefighters to the hospital after they suffered allergic reactions to the stings, a fire official said.

The bees’ hive was tucked into a wooded area west of the Main Street exit when a Chevrolet pickup veered off the freeway and slammed into the area. The driver of the pickup was stung as he ran up a hill to the freeway. Three Corona police officers and three Corona firefighters were also attacked after the afternoon accident.

“Once we knew there were bees in there, we backed out, but these bees were attacking us from 100 yards away,” Corona Fire Battalion Chief John Medina said.

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“That’s the most aggressive hive I’ve ever seen.”

Firefighters planned to kill the bees by spraying the hive with firefighting foam so the truck could be pulled out, Medina said.

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