In a bizarre incident in Hatfield, it is believed that a bear was involved in moving the body of a crash victim from his car on Sunday, according to State Police.
Reports indicate that 31-year-old Daniel Ducharme from South Hadley likely lost his life in a crash on Route 91 south in Hatfield. Police findings suggest that he was "either fully ejected or partially ejected and later dragged from the car by the bear."
Authorities were alerted by another driver around 11 a.m. on Sunday after spotting a car in the woods off the side of the road. Troopers discovered a "heavily damaged" 2016 Honda Civic among the trees.
Troopers Encounter Bear at Crash Site
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders found the deceased male outside the vehicle with a bear sighted in the woods nearby, as per State Police. It was noted that "evidence suggests the bear at some point had made contact with the victim's body."
The bear fled the area while troopers were present at the scene.
A car crash in Hatfield, Massachusetts is currently under investigation. The driver, Ducharme, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Authorities report that Ducharme lost control of the car, struck the guardrail multiple times, and veered off the right side of the road. The car then went down an embankment, colliding with several trees along the way.
Black bears spotted in Massachusetts
The town of Hatfield falls within the established range of black bears in Massachusetts. It is estimated that there are over 4,500 bears residing in the state.
As wildlife officials had previously warned in March, bears are emerging from hibernation and actively seeking food in the area.
