Bear Dies After Being Hit by Pickup Truck in Richland County
RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO — A bear died after being struck by a pickup truck on Saturday morning. The incident occurred on state Route 546 near Black Road in Perry Township, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The crash involved a 2021 Dodge Ram pickup truck pulling a livestock trailer heading north on state Route 546. The bear entered the road and was hit by the truck. Due to the severity of its injuries, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was contacted, and the bear was euthanized at the scene.
The driver of the Dodge Ram was not injured in the collision. This incident follows recent reports of black bear sightings across central Ohio. On June 10, a bear was spotted in Licking County for the first time in over 20 years, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Similar sightings were reported in Delaware and Morrow counties a couple of days later.
ODNR believes the bear spotted in Licking County may be the same one seen in Morrow County. However, officials have not confirmed whether the bear involved in Saturday’s crash was the same animal.
10TV contacted ODNR to inquire about the identity of the bear that died in the crash, but the details remain unconfirmed.
