A driver likely killed in a horror car crash in the north eastern US was found next to a bear that appeared to have then dragged his body into woods, according to police.
Daniel Ducharme, 31, lost control of his car on a freeway in Hatfield, Massachusetts, around 160km westy of Boston, on Sunday morning.
Teh car struck the guardrail multiple times before hurtling off the road and down an embankment, Boston25 News reported.
Mr Ducharme, from nearby South Hadley, is thought to have been killed in the accident — and was “either fully ejected or partially ejected” from his 2016 Honda Civic, CBS News added, citing Massachusetts State Police.
Another driver alerted police to the remains of the wreck off the roadway around 11am, reportedd the New York Post.
“When first responders reached the scene, the deceased male occupant of the vehicle was outside the car and a bear was observed in the woods in the vicinity of the scene,” State Police said, suggesting that the animal had dragged the driver’s body there.
“Evidence suggests the bear at some point had made contact with the victim’s body.”
The bear left the area while troopers were at the scene, CBS News noted.
There are thought to be 45000 black bears in Massachusetts and the are where the incident occured is within their range. Black bears can be dangerous to humans but rarely attack.
Officials could only say that it was assumed Mr Ducharme was killed by the initial crash.
A full investigation into his death and the crash is ongoing.
Mr Ducharme was alone at the time.
State police did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for further comment Tuesday.
This story appeared in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.