New Hampshire police charge man with BAC 2X legal limit after hitting and killing local bear

Yesterday, the Hollis Police Department in southern New Hampshire issued a press release. On Sunday night around 6:15 p.m., police responded to a single car accident. Unfortunately, the driver hit a large animal. Upon arrival, officers inspected a local black bear lying on the ground and determined it had died as a result of the collision. To add to the chaotic scene, when police spoke to the driver, they noticed something was wrong.

According to the department’s press release, the 30-year-old driver was showing signs of impairment. Ultimately, his alleged blood alcohol content (BAC) tested at .17. That’s a little more than twice the legal limit. Police charged the man with an open container violation in addition to aggravated DUI and “standard” DUI.

The department explained that the aggravated DUI came after an elevated BAC. Police did not mention the bear in any of the charges.

The driver posted bail and asked to be driven home. When his ride arrived, however, the department determined the 29-year-old driver had operated a vehicle on a suspended license. The car also had suspended registrations. Authorities issued a summons charging her with driving after revocation/suspension and suspended vehicle registration.

New Hampshire has nearly 5,000 black bears roaming its landscape. The state Department of Fish and Game says vehicle collisions are the second leading cause of death for its black bear population. However, “shooting of female bears by homeowners in conflict with poultry” is the most common cause of orphaned cubs. Between 10 and 20 black bear cubs are orphaned each year from homeowner incidents.

When it comes to making quick decisions when a wild animal runs in front of your car, things can get a little watery. It’s true that you generally shouldn’t turn or make sudden, dangerous movements to avoid animals. Doing so could cause more serious damage or injury to you and others. However, if a large animal crosses in front of you and you have enough room to slow down safely, you may do so.

Without the details of the collision, it’s hard to say whether this driver’s impairment interfered with his ability to avoid the bear.