Nearly 20 million bees spilled after a tractor trailer carrying them from Idaho to North Dakota met with an accident.

Butte County Sheriff Wes Collins said he tried hard to save some of 408 beehives that were dumped onto the sagebrush Thursday, but said he failed in his attempt.

Collins said the driver reported that he swerved to avoid another vehicle, and the big rig flipped onto its side, spilling the beehives onto the hot desert floor. The truck flipped back onto its wheels and continued out into the sagebrush for about 75 yards.

Officials also tried to reach to the company that owned the bees, but they could not get the driver’s phone to retrieve the owner’s number because the truck was swarming with angry bees. But later when the officials reached to the owner, he said there is no way through which bees could be saved.

Collins said the accident took place on State Highway 33 located about eight miles south of Howe.

Idaho State Police, the Idaho National Laboratory Fire Department, Arco police and the Idaho Department of Transportation responded to the scene, all trying to figure out what to do with the 20 million angry bees.

Officials told that Browning Honey Company of Idaho Falls was called out and brought three trucks to try to salvage the hives.

The Idaho National Laboratory Fire Department after talking to the company’s owner decided to spray foam on the bee hives.

Brian Wiggins, co-owner of Idaho-based KatieBee Honey, said the loss represents about 50% of his business. He did not provide a dollar estimate but said the loss was covered by insurance.

He said, “We lost not only a huge honey crop, but we lost many hives and reproducers. We’ll just go from here and hope for the best”.