450-pound bear causes crash on dark road, NC officials say

In a startling incident in North Carolina, a vernal 450-pound black bear is purported to have caused a vehicular collision on a dark road, according to state officials.

The crash reportedly transpired on the evening of May 2, when a vehicle careened off the street and collided with a tree in the area of the Nantahala National Forest. The vehicle’s occupants – a family of four – emerged unscathed, though shaken, from the incident.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission was contacted, and upon inspection of the scene, they concluded that the crash was precipitated by a black bear of prodigious size. Further, they postulate that the animal had been crossing the road at the time of the crash, though this cannot be definitively determined.

The agency has since taken measures to mitigate the risk of similar occurrences, by implementing a bear-sensitive monitoring system in the area. The system, which combines automated audio recordings and motion-activated cameras, is intended to provide real-time data on the presence of bears in the area and to alert wildlife personnel of potentially hazardous situations.

The incident serves as a salient reminder that wildlife encounters, though rare, can occur in even the most remote environments. The WRC has implored drivers to remain vigilant while traversing forested areas, and to adhere to posted speed limits to ensure the safety of both humans and animals.

It is hoped that the implementation of the aforementioned monitoring system will help to ensure the safety of all parties involved in such incidents in the future.