BEAVER VALLEY — A black bear was hit and killed Monday by a motorist on state Highway 19 just north of Egg & I Road, Jefferson County sheriff’s officials report.
About 8:30 a.m., the driver of a vehicle heading north called emergency 9-1-1 to say he had struck the bear and believed it to be dead.
He said he didn’t have time to wait at the scene, but just wanted to let emergency crews know what had happened, said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Tony Hernandez, who is director of the county animal control division.
Hernandez said it is not a crime to hit wildlife if the animals run into the road.
Sheriff’s deputies went to the scene to confirm that the bear was dead.
“The person who struck the bear had left, and the bear was dead in the ditch,” said Hernandez.
