A 55-year-old man from Jackson was seriously injured and airlifted to a hospital after colliding with a bear on Idaho Highway 31 on Wednesday at approximately 5:37 p.m.
The man was riding a 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycle northbound near milepost 7, north of Swan Valley, according to the Idaho State Police. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The identity of the rider and details of his condition following the accident have not been disclosed.
Authorities described the aftermath as chaotic, with traffic backed up as emergency responders worked at the scene for approximately four hours. Northbound lanes of Highway 31 were closed during this time.
Witnesses reported seeing debris from the motorcycle on the roadway. An eyewitness, Marissa Williams, described her experience navigating the traffic backup and seeing what appeared to be remnants of the bear following the collision.
The Idaho State Police are investigating the incident but have not indicated whether speed or other factors were involved. Meanwhile, Idaho Fish and Game has yet to confirm the species of bear involved or its fate post-collision.
Officials have previously warned that drought conditions may push wildlife closer to human activity as animals seek food sources before winter. The Idaho Transportation Department noted that the state sees approximately 1,010 wildlife collisions each year.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to gather further information.