CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A bear was hit and killed by a vehicle driving along Interstate 77 Thursday night.
The Highway Patrol says the bear ran into the path of the car near Highway 16, just outside uptown Charlotte.
Wildlife officials said it was a black bear and it is likely that it's the same bear that was spotted at a business in northwest Charlotte Wednesday morning.
A wildlife officer took a tooth sample from the bear in order to determine its age.
This week several bear sightings have been reported across the Carolinas. Black bears were spotted in Raleigh and Garner. Two sightings were reported in Raleigh Thursday.
Wildlife officials says it's uncommon for bears to wander through densely populated cities, but the animals are typically on the move this time of year. People who spot a bear should not approach it and should notify authorities.
