CHIMACUM – A black bear was killed Friday morning when a it was struck by a sheriff’s cruiser on Center Road, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.
The impact with the 100-pound bear did about $2,500 worth of damage to the front of the squad car driven by Deputy Don Johnson, said Chief Criminal Deputy Tony Hernandez.
The airbag deployed, slightly scratching Johnson’s arm, but he received no other injuries, Hernandez said.
At 12:47 a.m. Friday, Johnson was driving about 45 mph north on Center Road at milepost 1.5 as he was answering a request for service.
“It was dark and windy and rainy,” Hernandez said.
The bear moved quickly across the road, and Johnson didn’t see it until it was too late, Hernandez said.
Jefferson County Public Works crew members were called to dispose of the bear’s carcass.
The car has been temporarily taken out of service to repair the front-end damage.
Hernandez said this was the second time in the last year that a deputy has hit and killed a bear in Jefferson County, and the third vehicle-versus-bear collision overall in the last year in the county.
