British Columbia

Bear killed following Port Coquitlam collision

Coquitlam RCMP were forced to shoot a bear after it was hit by a car late Tuesday night. WARNING: this story contains a graphic image of the bear.

WARNING: This story contains a graphic image of the bear shot by police

Police said they were forced to shoot the bear after it was hit by a car late Tuesday night. (Robin Batchelor/CBC)

Coquitlam RCMP were forced to shoot a bear after it was hit by a car late Tuesday night.

The crash happened on the Mary Hill Bypass, near Pitt River Road in Port Coquitlam, B.C., just before midnight.

The crash happened on the Mary Hill Bypass, near Pitt River Road, just before midnight Tuesday. (Robin Batchelor/CBC)

When police arrived on scene, the bear was suffering from injuries. It was put down by an officer.

Const. Jamie Phillipson said the bear had been hit by multiple vehicles. The first driver did not stay on scene, but one of the subsequent drivers called 911 and remained on scene to assist police with the investigation.

Conservation officers were then called in to collect the bear.

Eastbound traffic was backed up on the Mary Hill Bypass for roughly half an hour, before reopening just before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

When police arrived on scene, the bear was suffering from injuries and had to be shot and put down. (Robin Batchelor/CBC)