Car hits police officer searching for bear

By MIKE MORRIS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Kennesaw State University police officer was hit by a car Wednesday night while searching for a bear that had been seen near the school's Cobb County campus.

This young black bear was spotted cruising the northern suburbs of Atlanta.

More Atlanta area news »

• Cops: Milton dad kills teen, 16
• Funeral Monday for Carmo family
• Hemy Neuman's motive at crux of murder trial
• 2 shot after couple's argument

Cobb police spokesman Joe Hernandez said the county's 911 center received a call about the bear, and Cobb and KSU officers responded to check the area of Chastain Road and I-75 adjacent to the campus.

A KSU officer, whose name has not been released, had gotten out of his car to look for the bear when he was struck by another vehicle about 9:20 p.m., Hernandez said.

He said the officer's injuries were not life-threatening.

The bear remains at large.

Officials with the state Department of Natural Resources said bear sightings are not unusual in Cobb County and other northern suburbs, particularly in the spring and summer when young male cubs are being kicked out by the mother bear and are searching for their own territory.

At least three bears were struck by vehicles and killed in Cobb County last year, including one on Barrett Parkway at I-75, about two miles south of the KSU campus.

In 2007, a bear was hit by a car and killed on I-75 near Wade Green Road - two miles north of campus.