TWIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A black bear has died after being struck by a pickup truck in a late-night collision over the weekend, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning, July 12, at approximately 12:39 a.m. on U.S. Route 50, just west of Ohio 28.
Impact on the Roadway
State troopers report that 36-year-old Justin Ash of Chillicothe was driving a 2023 Ford F-150 towing a trailer eastbound on Route 50 when the bear unexpectedly entered the roadway. The heavy truck and trailer combination struck the animal, causing severe injuries.
Ash and his two passengers—61-year-old Bryan Ash of Alma, West Virginia, and a 5-year-old child—all escaped the collision without injury.
Bear Euthanized on Scene
Due to the catastrophic nature of the injuries sustained by the bear, responding state troopers and wildlife officials determined that the animal could not be saved. According to the Highway Patrol, the bear had to be humanely put down at the scene of the crash.
Motorists are reminded by wildlife officials to remain extra vigilant for large wildlife on rural roads during late-night and early-morning hours.
A Symbol of Ohio’s Black Bear Comeback
While wildlife collisions are common on southern Ohio roads, accidents involving black bears highlight a growing ecological trend: the species is making a definitive comeback in the Buckeye State.
Once completely eradicated from Ohio by the mid-1850s due to unregulated hunting and deforestation, black bears have been steadily repopulating the state over the last few decades. Wildlife biologists note that younger male bears frequently migrate into southern and eastern Ohio from neighboring states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania in search of new territory.
As a result, sightings—and unfortunately, highway encounters—are becoming increasingly common in wooded areas like Ross County. State wildlife officials urge motorists to remain extra vigilant for large wildlife on rural roads, particularly during late-night and early-morning hours when bears are most active.
