It is a wonder that the driver and passengers in the SUV weren't injured or killed during this incident, which happened in the late evening (right after dark) if memory serves. I've never seen a bear that large, except for the grizzlies out in Montana. The Conecuh river swamp and its surrounding flood plain is full of wild animals. They are constantly on the move in search of food, or prey, and many unfortunate accidents like this happen all the time down here in the south, especially when doe deer bring their fawns out from heavy cover to graze in the tall grasses near the rural highways and byways.
Several years ago, during the rutting season, right before dusk, a huge Whitetail buck deer chased a doe across the highway right in front of my truck. I was travelling at 65 mph and the right front side of the truck hit the buck in front of its right back leg, knocking him at least 20 feet into the air, while his dead body turned a full circle (in slow motion) and then hit ground quite a distance further down the road.
Had I hit them both, and at the right instant, the buck (massive horns and all) could have easily come over the hood and right through the windshield - which could have killed me instantly. Something that I've pondered over many times, and thank God that I wasn't injured.
I did stop, back up, and drag that buck into the bed of my truck; and then took it to one of my cousins who skinned and dressed the carcass for half of the meat that was left fit to eat.
