Massachusetts State Police are working to determine whether a man died as a result of crashing his car or was killed by the bear that apparently dragged him away from the wreck on Sunday, May 5.
Knewz.com has learned State police responded to a stretch of Route 91 South in Hatfield after a driver reported seeing a car in the woods along the roadway at around 11 a.m. Sunday. Officers arrived to find a 2016 Honda Civic in the tree line, along with several damaged trees.
"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 in a statement. "Evidence suggests the bear at some point had made contact with the victim's body."
The victim was identified as 31-year-old Daniel Ducharme of South Hadley.
Preliminary investigation indicated the crash likely occurred a few hours before the wreckage was found.
Ducharme was traveling southbound when it is believed he somehow lost control of the car, striking a guardrail multiple times before going off the highway and down an embankment, crashing into the trees.
It is estimated that there are more than 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts, according to the state's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. At this time of year, bears are emerging from hibernation and seeking food, and Hatfield is within their range.
The cause of the crash and the cause of Ducharme's death remain under investigation.
—TMX contributed to this report.