According to State Police, it is believed that a bear dragged the body of a crash victim out of his car in Hatfield, western Massachusetts on Sunday.
According to investigators, 31-year-old Daniel Ducharme of South Hadley was likely killed in the Route 91 south crash near Hatfield. According to the police, the evidence implies he was “either fully or partially ejected and later dragged from the car by the bear.”
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At 11 a.m. on Sunday, a concerned driver contacted the police after spotting a car in the woods by the roadside. Upon investigation, troopers discovered a 2016 Honda Civic that had sustained significant damage amidst the surrounding trees.
Troopers saw bear in woods at crash scene
“When first responders reached the scene, the deceased male occupant of the vehicle was outside the car and a bear was observed in the woods in the vicinity of the scene,” State Police said in a statement. “Evidence suggests the bear at some point had made contact with the victim’s body.”
The bear fled from the area while troopers were present at the scene.
The authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash. It appears that Ducharme was the sole occupant of the vehicle. According to the police, he inexplicably lost control of the car, repeatedly colliding with the guardrail before veering off the road to the right. Subsequently, he descended down an embankment and collided with multiple trees.
Black bears active in Massachusetts
Hatfield falls within the established range of black bears in Massachusetts, where there are believed to be over 4,500 bears.
In March, wildlife officials issued a reminder to residents about the emergence of bears from hibernation and their quest for food.
