A black bear was struck by a minivan on Nov. 18 on Tidewater Trail (U.S. Route 17) near Warner Road (Route 603) about four miles north of Saluda, reported Maj. M.E. Sampson of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
According to a MCSO incident report, three occupants in the minivan were heading home to Richmond when they hit the large black bear.
The emergency 911 call that came in about 9:10 p.m. reported a deer had been struck. However, the responding Middlesex deputy found they had hit a bear, said Maj. Sampson.
The driver had applied brakes but couldn’t stop in time. The impact caused the minivan’s airbags to deploy and damaged the minivan, which had to be towed from the scene.
Speed did not appear to be a factor and the speed limit is 60 mph on that section, said Maj. Sampson.
The bear was severely injured and was euthanized by the deputy.
According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), “Black bears occupy a greater range of habitats than any bear in the world.” In Virginia black bears are found all along the Appalachian mountains, in the Piedmont area, and occasionally in coastal areas.
Black bears are solitary animals that live up to 30 years.
