Black Bear Euthanized After Pickup Strike in Richland County Ohio

A black bear was euthanized after being struck by a pickup truck in Richland County, Ohio, on State Route 546. The incident involved an 18-year-old driver, Dawson Staley, who was pulling a livestock trailer when the bear entered the roadway, resulting in severe injuries to the animal that required euthanasia at the scene. The driver was not injured. This event follows recent multiple black bear sightings in central Ohio, including first sightings in over 20 years in Licking County, with additional sightings in Delaware and Morrow counties. Officials have not confirmed if the bear involved in the crash was the same one seen in recent sightings. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to the incident and handled the aftermath accordingly.