3 killed as car hits bear in Florida
Three people died and eight were injured in a crash that happened after a motorist hit a bear on a road in the Florida Everglades and stopped.
Authorities say a Cadillac Escalade hit the bear on Sunday evening and people in a second vehicle stopped to help. A Mercedes then ploughed into the group, killing the three Good Samaritans who had got out of the second car to help.
Four critically-injured patients were airlifted to hospital in Fort Lauderdale, while another four people with non-life-threatening injuries were taken by ambulance. Officials say some of the victims were children.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the 45-year old driver of the Mercedes and his 14 year old son were among the injured.
The crash happened on a road north of Interstate 75 on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation.
Police spokesman Gary Bitner said two of the 13 people involved were not injured, including the woman in the vehicle that hit the bear.
According to the Guardian, Bitner said: "Three people from a second vehicle got out and tried to help and all were struck and killed by a third vehicle.
"We've never had an accident involving a black bear. There are black bears throughout Florida and this is in the Everglades, so there absolutely are black bears in that area."
The bear died at the scene.
There are thought to be around 3,000 black bears in Florida, and they are the state's biggest mammal.
Related articles
Bear bites off boy's arm at Chinese zoo
Man attacked by grizzly bear shot by friend trying to save him
Bear filmed taking a dip in family's pool
