Bear dragged away car crash victim’s body

A bear dragged a car crash victim from his vehicle in Massachusetts on Sunday before fleeing the scene when first responders arrived, according to reports.

The crashed car was found on the side of the I-91 in Hatfield at around 11am after hitting barriers and plunging into the woods next to the highway.

Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said in an initial report that the driver was possibly ejected, or partially ejected, from the vehicle. A bear then reportedly dragged him away from the car before police arrived.

The victim, identified by local news outlets as Daniel Ducharme, 31, was possibly already dead when the bear arrived, according to police. The Independent has contacted MSP for comment.

Police are investigating what caused Mr Ducharme to lose control of his vehicle, and at what point he died.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs told Western Mass News that the department had “euthanized a bear in Hatfield” and that there was “no threat to public safety”.

Massachusetts’ Division of Fisheries and Wildlife says that bears are found across western and central parts of the state, where Hatfield is located, with an estimated population of at least 4,500 bears.

Reports of an expanding bear range have increased, with the animals seen moving further east in recent years.

In November, a 300-pound black bear, known as Pumpkin, was killed by a hunter after he was found to have attacked a goat.

Another was shot by a resident in Kingston, after they feared they would be attacked as it bothered livestock. The wounded bear retreated into the woods at the time.

Mass Wildlife says that bears do not usually attack unless provoked, with those hiking in woods told to make the animals aware of their presence by clapping, talking or making other sounds.