BLUE ASH, OH – A startled driver rolled his SUV last week after a cicada flew through an open window, according to Blue Ash Police. The crash occurred late Tuesday in this Cincinnati suburb when a 37-year-old man driving a 2021 Kia Sorento was distracted by an insect. While attempting to swat it away, he lost control, veered off the road, struck a pole, and flipped the vehicle onto its side. No injuries were reported.
The Blue Ash Police Department posted a photo of the wrecked SUV on Facebook, noting, “As you can see, a cicada attack can be dangerous. Fortunately, no one was injured in this crash. The suspect fled the scene.” Authorities are now urging drivers to keep windows rolled up, as cicadas show little regard for personal space. Though harmless to humans—lacking the ability to sting, bite, or carry diseases—they can damage young trees when females lay eggs in new growth.
This year’s surge is linked to Brood XIV, a 17-year periodical cicada brood emerging across the eastern U.S., with heavy sightings in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. In the Cincinnati area alone, Cicada Safari’s tracking map has logged over 1,000 recent reports.
