Bear dragged away car crash victim’s body
Car hit barriers and plunged into woods next to highway in Massachusetts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A bear dragged a car crash victim from his vehicle in Massachusetts on Sunday before fleeing the scene when first responders arrived, according to reports.
The crashed car was found on the side of the I-91 in Hatfield at around 11am after hitting barriers and plunging into the woods next to the highway.
Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said in an initial report that the driver was possibly ejected, or partially ejected, from the vehicle. A bear then reportedly dragged him away from the car before police arrived.
The victim, identified by local news outlets as Daniel Ducharme, 31, was possibly already dead when the bear arrived, according to police. The Independent has contacted MSP for comment.
Police are investigating what caused Mr Ducharme to lose control of his vehicle, and at what point he died.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs told Western Mass News that the department had “euthanized a bear in Hatfield” and that there was “no threat to public safety”.
Massachusetts’ Division of Fisheries and Wildlife says that bears are found across western and central parts of the state, where Hatfield is located. There are an estimated 4,500 bears in the area.
Bears have been moving further east in recent years, according to wildlife experts. In November, a 300lb black bear, known as Pumpkin, was killed by a hunter after he attacked a goat in Whitman, in south-east Massachusetts. Another bear was shot by a resident in Kingston, Massachusetts, in August 2023.
Mass. Wildlife says that bears do not usually attack unless provoked, with those hiking in woods told to make the animals aware of their presence by clapping, talking or making other sounds.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments