A North Carolina woman got the shock of her life on her morning commute when something suddenly crashed through her windshield. Moments later, she realized the object was a cat — apparently dropped from the sky by a bald eagle.
In a statement, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the driver was traveling on US-74 around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in Swain County near Bryson City, roughly 65 miles outside Asheville, when the bizarre collision happened.
She called 911 right away, telling the operator that the falling animal shattered her windshield.
“You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield. It absolutely shattered my windshield,” the unnamed driver said in a 911 transcript obtained by ABC 11.
“I do believe you, honestly,” the operator replied, adding that a witness described it as “the craziest thing” they’d ever seen.
Authorities said the driver wasn’t hurt, but The Charlotte Observer reported that the cat died from the impact.
State trooper Kosal Thach told the outlet that the eagle had been seen carrying the cat in midair, with the animal appearing to “fight” the bird before it fell.
Investigators said the car was moving at about 55 mph when the cat hit. A police photo showed the passenger-side windshield smashed. The driver had her vehicle towed and got a ride to work afterward, Thach said.
The bald eagle flew off before troopers arrived. Officials don’t know where the cat came from or whether it was a local pet.
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Bryson City sits near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a region known for bald eagle activity. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bald eagles are the largest birds of prey in North America. Females can spread nearly 8 feet wingtip-to-wingtip and weigh up to about 14 pounds, while males typically reach around 6 feet and about 10 pounds.
The species is also an opportunistic hunter. Fish make up much of their diet, but bald eagles will also take waterfowl, shorebirds, turtles, rabbits, snakes, and other small animals, swooping down to grab prey with their talons.
