RIVERSIDE - (INT) - Authorities will attempt to determine if it was a swarm of so-called 'killer' bees that attacked a construction crew killing one man and injuring two others Monday.

Fire department officials said the workers were digging a trench near a Walmart store on Van Buren Boulevard when they accidentally disturbed a bee hive.

Hundreds of bees unleashed a stinging attack sending the workers running in every direction. They eventually activated a water hose breaking up the swarm and ending the attack.

The injured workers were taken to a local hospital where Douglas Queen, 49, later died, according to the coroner's office.

The contractor was grading the property for a parking lot and possibly hit an underground sprinkler control vault which housed the bee hive, according to the fire department.

Story Date: August 5, 2015