Cicada Startle Causes Ohio Driver Flip Near Cincinnati

In Blue Ash, Ohio, a cicada flew into a driver's SUV through an open window, causing the 37-year-old driver to panic and lose control, resulting in the vehicle flipping onto its passenger side after hitting a pole. The Blue Ash Police Department humorously warned drivers to keep their windows up during the cicada season, noting the cicadas' lack of respect for personal space and emphasizing the potential dangers of such unexpected intrusions. Despite the severe damage to the silver Kia Sorento, including a shattered windshield and deployed airbags, the driver walked away unharmed. Billions of these periodical cicadas, specifically Brood XIV, are emerging this year across 13 states including Ohio, New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, after spending years underground as nymphs before surfacing when soil temperatures rise. The police jokingly referred to the cicada as the “noisy suspect” that fled the scene, while social media users reacted with humor and curiosity about the unusual crash and potential insurance claims. Experts highlight that these red-eyed bugs are attracted to heat and are the second-largest group of periodical cicadas, which are known for their loud buzzing and cyclical emergence.