Bear killed after car crash in Virginia Beach: VBPD

A bear was hit and killed after a single-vehicle car crash Monday night, Virginia Beach police told News 3 on Tuesday.Virginia Beach police say the call for this incident came in around 9:47 p.m., prompting officers and animal enforcement to respond to the scene. The bear was found dead on arrival. The location of the car crash was not mentioned by Virginia Beach police.The incident comes after several reported bear sightings in Virginia Beach this year, including one in the Great Neck area in May. On Tuesday morning, News 3 also received new video from a neighbor who lives near Kempsville Road and Battlefield Boulevard showing another bear in the area.Watch related coverage: Bear seen in Virginia Beach neighborhoodIn their message to News 3, Virginia Beach police provided a Department of Wildlife Guidance on black bears in Virginia.Ciara Lewis, who grew up off Oceana Boulevard and still has family and friends in the area, said she was saddened to hear about the bear’s death near her old neighborhood.“It’s just extremely sad,” Lewis said.Lewis said she worries ongoing construction and tree clearing in Virginia Beach may be contributing to the increased number of bear sightings.“I’ve been super angry lately,” Lewis said. “My husband and I were driving down General Booth and Dam Neck and just seeing all of the construction and all the trees cut down — no wonder we’re seeing the bears more. I feel like they’ve just been driven out.”The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has previously told News 3 that bear sightings can happen in neighborhoods when food sources are available, but they tend to decrease as natural food becomes more abundant during the summer months.DWR said consturction could be a factor but its hard to narrow bear sightings down to just one reason.Lewis said she hopes drivers along Oceana Boulevard will be more cautious and aware of wildlife.“I just think now more than ever it’s important that we are extremely cautious and make sure we are aware of our surroundings,” she said.Back in April, a black bear was sighted in Virginia Beach's Alanton neighborhood. “I would have thought you were crazy,” said Kirstyn Atkinson, recalling what she might have said if told she would see a black bear in Virginia Beach.Atkinson said she spotted the bear Wednesday and captured video of the encounter in her backyard. She added that the bear did eventually leave, climbing over her back fence.News 3 reached out to Virginia Beach Animal Services for more information, check back with us for updates.Click here to see how we use AI at WTKR News 3.