Bear Rescued After Darting Into Traffic, Getting Stuck Under Car

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office helped rescue a bear after it darted into traffic and became stuck under a passing vehicle.

Road deputies and animal control personnel responded to the scene of the collision on South Center Highway south of Eckerle Road at 10:31am Tuesday. A 58-year-old Suttons Bay woman was driving south on South Center Highway in a pick-up truck when a small black bear ran out into the roadway. The woman attempted to stop for the animal, but struck the bear when it went under her vehicle.

 

Deputies saw the bear was still alive underneath the truck. A deputy slowly maneuvered the pick-up truck back and forth and was able to drive it away from the bear. The bear was then coaxed up and back into the woods. The vehicle was undamaged in the incident, and "the bear appeared to be doing well also," according to a statement from the Sheriff's Office.

Photo credit: Leelanau County Sheriff's Office