MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — Alligators continue to cause Texas motorists to do double-takes.
A motorist in southeast Texas suffered minor injuries when his vehicle collided with a 10-foot, 300-pound alligator early Thursday, the Houston Chronicle reported.
It was the second recent auto accident in the Houston area involving an alligator in the road.
Last week, an 8-foot alligator caused a delay on the Fred Hartman Bridge in Houston as it napped on the roadway.
On Thursday, Anthony Jackson was traveling at the posted speed limit of 70 mph and was crossing the San Jacinto River bridge when he struck the reptile at about 3 a.m., according to the Montgomery County Police Reporter.
Jackson drove nearly half a mile with the alligator wedged under his car, the newspaper reported.
The vehicle was damaged but Jackson was not hurt. The alligator, however, died from the force of the crash, the Chronicle reported.
Crews loaded the dead gator on the back of a tow truck, and, following the instructions of wildlife officials, dumped the carcass into the San Jacinto River, the newspaper reported.
>> Alligator causes traffic delay by napping on Houston bridge
“Adding to the list of things not commonly seen while on patrol,” the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post.
According to Brannon Meinkowsky, one of Montgomery County’s game wardens, the number of alligator sightings has risen
“Areas that used to be in the middle of the woods are now parks and subdivisions, Meinkowsky told the Chronicle. “So I think the numbers have increased, but also their wooded areas or secluded areas have decreased.”
It is not the first time an alligator has been run over in Montgomery County, Meinkowsky told the newspaper. However, car collisions with deer are far more common.
“It’s just kind of unique,” he said. “It’s not usually the alligators that are on the roadway.”