HATFIELD, Massachusetts – A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday in Hatfield, where a bear was believed to have dragged the body of a crash victim out of his car. State Police reported that 31-year-old Daniel Ducharme from South Hadley likely lost his life as a result of the crash on Route 91 south in the area.
Authorities shared that evidence indicated Ducharme was either fully ejected or partially ejected from his vehicle and was later dragged away by a bear. The unsettling discovery was made after a concerned driver notified police upon spotting a car in the woods off the side of the road at 11 a.m. Troopers arrived to find a severely damaged 2016 Honda Civic amidst the trees.
Upon reaching the scene, first responders encountered the deceased male outside the car, with a bear observed in the woods nearby. It was evident that the bear had made contact with the victim’s body, prompting the animal to flee the area while authorities assessed the scene.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with Ducharme identified as the sole occupant of the vehicle. Police detailed that he seemingly lost control of the car, struck the guardrail multiple times, veered off the road’s right side, descended an embankment, and collided with several trees.
Hatfield falls within the established range of black bears in Massachusetts, with an estimated population of over 4,500 bears in the state. Back in March, wildlife officials had issued reminders to residents about bears emerging from hibernation and venturing out in search of food. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the coexistence between humans and wildlife in the region.