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An approximately 200-pound bear survived after being struck by a car on the 210 freeway early Monday morning. Apparently taking his cues from the upper echelons of American power, the injured bear is now hiding in bushes on the freeway embankment, according to KTLA.
Police officers first spotted the bear walking along Bowdoin Street at around 7:40 a.m. in La Verne, a suburb between San Dimas and Claremont east of Los Angeles. The bear then made its way onto the 210 freeway, where it was struck and injured by an eastbound vehicle near the Fruit Street exit, according to the La Verne Police Department. KTLA reports that responding officers saw the bear "limping and laying down."
The Fruit Street onramp to the westbound 210 freeway remains closed.
SIGALERT ISSUED IN LA VERNE. FRUIT STREET ON-RAMP TO WB I-120 IS CLOSED FOR AN UNKNOWN DURATION DUE TO POLICE ACTIVITY
— CHP PIO - LA County (@CHPsouthern) May 15, 2017
Breaking!! Bear in La Verne. Hiding in bushes on 210 Freeway! #nbcla pic.twitter.com/xyfoNOH2se
— Kevin LaBeach (@Kevinnbcla) May 15, 2017
La Verne Police told LAist that the California Fish and Wildlife Department is currently on the scene. Video coverage shows Fish and Wildlife officers aiming what appears to be a tranquilizer gun at the bear. We reached out to Fish and Wildlife for comment but did not immediately hear back.
A number of news stations are now showing live feeds of the bear hiding in the bushes because this is 2017:
WATCH LIVE: A bear wandered onto the 210 Fwy and was struck by a car. It's now hiding in bushes https://t.co/iaJA3Dwb6i pic.twitter.com/Je215RYD3F
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) May 15, 2017
#LIVE: Bear remains in bushes near the 210 Freeway; Fruit St on-ramp to WB 210 closed https://t.co/u5lTveArpy pic.twitter.com/25fcNik4x0
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 15, 2017
HAPPENING NOW: An injured bear has limped off the freeway after being struck by a car in Southern California. #LIVE: https://t.co/L6p9NIYqRR pic.twitter.com/ovVQZN4GsE
— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) May 15, 2017
[Update: 11:18 a.m.]
According to ABC 7, the bear has been captured/rescued and will be transported to receive care:
BEAR UPDATE: Bear struck by car in La Verne rescued, transported to animal facility in Pomona https://t.co/9WkveAM0io pic.twitter.com/v96AjIeCCE
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 15, 2017
[Update: 12:17 p.m.]
According to ABC 7, the bear suffered a broken limb and will be euthanized:
THIS JUST IN: Young female bear struck by car on 210 Fwy in La Verne suffered broken leg, will be euthanized https://t.co/jm9nm6ewul pic.twitter.com/FLgCDYS9An
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 15, 2017
