Smarter Than The Average Bear?

An Aug. 3 photo from the Hoopa Fire Department shows a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department patrol car
after it was struck by a falling bear, hit an embankment, rolled onto its side and burst into flames.
The deputy managed to escape without serious injury. (Rod Mendes/Hoopa Fire Department)

By ASSOCIATED PRESS AUG. 9, 2019 | 18:10

HOOPA, Calif. — They probably don’t train people for this at the sheriff’s academy.

As in, having your patrol car struck by a falling bear.

Authorities say a Humboldt County* sheriff’s deputy was driving on Highway 96 on Aug. 3, answering a report of a drug overdose in the community of Orleans, when the bear fell or jumped onto the car, apparently from a steep embankment.

The bear smashed the hood and windshield. The patrol car hit an embankment, rolled onto its side and burst into flames.†

The deputy managed to escape without serious injury. The fire was contained to about half an acre but the car was gutted.

The California Department of Transportation noted: “Don’t worry, the bear also fled the scene.”

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*:†Unsafe At Any Speed: They still driving Corvairs up there?

[Stolen from the L.A. Times.]