(Hinton) — A bee is responsible for a semi truck and trailer hauling market cattle
to overturn on Highway 75. The accident happened Monday morning at about 11:25
a.m. about a mile north of Hinton on the southbound lanes. Highway 75 southbound
traffic is being detoured at Merrill on county road C-44 heading west, and then
south on K-22 and back into Hinton on C-60, before it is allowed back on Highway
75. The truck driver told athorities that a bee had flown into his cab and he was
attempting to kill the bee, when he lost control of his rig. The semi truck and
trailer slid off the highway causing it to overturn. The truck driver has not been
identified, but authorities indicate he is from Osage, Iowa. The driver did not
suffer any injuries as a result of the accident. The trailer was hauling 32 head of
cattle, of which four head of cattle either died as a result of the accident, or
were put down due to injuries sustained from the accident. Two head of cattle
escaped and were last seen running loose. Local farmers gathered to offer
assistance with the round-up of cattle. Corral gates and livestock trailers were
brought to the accident scene to direct the cattle from the overturned trailer to
the awaiting livestock trailers. It is not known where the driver’s destination
was with the cattle. At the scene were the Hinton Fire Department and Hinton
Ambulance, Iowa Department of Transportation, Hinton Police Department, and the
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
