Firefighter Dead After Collision With Bear

An off-duty firefighter from Bend, Oregon, was killed over the weekend after he struck a large bear on the highway with his motorcycle, reports KATU. The collision sent 39-year-old Rhett Larsen into the path of oncoming traffic, and he was struck by an SUV pulling a utility trailer, reports the Bend Bulletin. Larsen died at the scene, and the driver of the SUV, which rolled onto its side, was airlifted to the hospital. The bear also was killed in the crash, which occurred about 7pm Saturday on Highway 26 near Warm Springs. The Bend Fire Department says in a statement that Larsen was "a creative soul with a compassionate heart, an intelligent and well-loved team player." (More bear stories.)