Post by ridge on Sept 5, 2017 17:24:49 GMT -5
MUSKEGON NEWS
Black bear struck, killed by motorist who saw 'flash of black'
By Lynn Moore lmoore8@mlive.com
OCEANA COUNTY, MI - At first James Harris thought it was a big dog that ran out of corn field into the path of his truck, but then his buddy riding in the passenger seat yelled out, "Hey you just hit a bear!"
Harris, 51, of Muskegon was headed north on South Maple Island Road about 4:30 Saturday afternoon when he said the bear came running full speed out of the row of corn and struck the side of his large pickup truck.
"It was like a flash from my right side - I saw a flash of black," Harris said. "It came out of the corn so fast, it happened within seconds."
Harris said he felt "bad about the situation," and uncertain what do to. He turned around and went back to find the bear had been killed. He called 911 and an Oceana County Sheriff's Deputy arrived on the scene near East Garfield Road in Greenfield Township. The speed limit in that area is 55 mph.
The deputy told Harris something was likely chasing the bear since bears don't tend to move that fast, especially at that time of the day.
Harris said the bear weighed about 200 pounds. It hit Harris' Ford F-350 pickup just above the tire, but caused little damage to the vehicle, Harris said.
Black bear struck, killed by motorist who saw 'flash of black'
By Lynn Moore lmoore8@mlive.com
OCEANA COUNTY, MI - At first James Harris thought it was a big dog that ran out of corn field into the path of his truck, but then his buddy riding in the passenger seat yelled out, "Hey you just hit a bear!"
Harris, 51, of Muskegon was headed north on South Maple Island Road about 4:30 Saturday afternoon when he said the bear came running full speed out of the row of corn and struck the side of his large pickup truck.
"It was like a flash from my right side - I saw a flash of black," Harris said. "It came out of the corn so fast, it happened within seconds."
Harris said he felt "bad about the situation," and uncertain what do to. He turned around and went back to find the bear had been killed. He called 911 and an Oceana County Sheriff's Deputy arrived on the scene near East Garfield Road in Greenfield Township. The speed limit in that area is 55 mph.
The deputy told Harris something was likely chasing the bear since bears don't tend to move that fast, especially at that time of the day.
Harris said the bear weighed about 200 pounds. It hit Harris' Ford F-350 pickup just above the tire, but caused little damage to the vehicle, Harris said.
